Ronald Wallace Runkel

Ronald W. Runkel, 92 of Strum, WI passed away September 20th, 2023 surrounded by his family at Care Partners, Altoona, WI.

Ron was the oldest of two children born to Florence (Lyon) and Herbert (Bob) Runkel on September 14, 1931, in Strum, WI.

At the tender age of five, Ron lost his mother to cancer.  He was raised by his maternal grandmother, Bena Lyon, along with his uncles Fred and Ralph Lyon in Strum, WI.

He graduated from Strum High School in 1949.

He was united in marriage to Patricia (Patty) Englesby at the Eleva Lutheran Church in Eleva, WI on July 3, 1954. For 69 years they have shared everything life can offer – together - in the warm community of Strum. They were a great team supporting each other in every way. 

Ron worked at Robbes Store in Strum, sold American Family Insurance, was in sales for Ripon Good Cookies and his final employer was Uniroyal Tire Company where he worked for 35 years. He was a member of Buffalo River Masonic Lodge 252 and a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, a member of Zor Shrine - Madison, the Major in the Zor Drum Corp for many years, was a past Thrice Potent Master of the Lodge of Perfection Scottish Rite, and a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Strum, WI.

Ron was a jokester and always loved a good prank or telling a joke.  Ron and Patty were snowbirds and spent many winters in Texas and the summers in Chetek.  He enjoyed boating on the Mississippi River with their cabin cruiser, the ‘Patricia Ann,’ and fishing on Lake Chetek.  He loved woodworking, carving, golfing (and the camaraderie that went along with it), reading and watching westerns. He was a dog lover, and was especially fond of his two Yorkies, GiGi and Bandit. He took pride in his children, his home, yard, and especially his little red truck.

Ron will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife, Patty; his children - Jeff (Becky), Jill Koxlien (Jeff), John (Yvonne), Joan Higley (Jon), of Strum; grandchildren – Gabe, Jacob, Gretta, Jayde, Rosalee, Sadie, Tyler, Evan, Collin, Vincent; great grandchildren – Rowan, Colton, Liam, Easton, Sawyer, Piper, Hayden, Jude, Lenox, Beau, Evelyne, and Maeve; sister-in-law’s:  Jean Runkel, Bobbie Berg, Sonya Sylla, and many nieces and nephews.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents - Herbert (Bob) and Florence Runkel; Grandmother Bena Lyon; infant son Kim Douglas; brother Doug Runkel.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00am, Friday, September 29th at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Strum, WI. Visitation will be held at 9:30am with a Masonic Service at 10:45am, to which all are welcome; Memorial service to immediately follow. Burial will be at the Eleva Cemetery, Eleva, WI

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to the Strum Public Library or Shriners Hospital.

Kjentvet-Smith Funeral Home in Eleva, WI is assisting the family. To express on-line condolences, visit obituaries at www.kjentvet-smithfuneralhome.com

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