Ronald C. Kegley

Ronald (Ron) Kegley, age 87, walked through the Pearly Gates into Heaven on December 6th, 2025, at Froedtert Hospital, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

Ron, the second son of the late Talmage and Millie (nee Radtke), was born in Crandon, Wisconsin, on May 30th, 1938.

Ron grew up on the family farm just outside of Crandon. He attended schools in Crandon from K-12. During his high school years, he worked after school in the Forest Republican newspaper office. After graduating from Crandon High School in 1956, Ron worked in a lumber mill until he realized there was no future there. He then attended Kendall College in Evanston, Illinois, where he also met his future wife, Alice Stranton. After graduating from Kendall with an Associate in Arts degree, Ron served in the Air Force from 1959 to 1963 as a flight simulator at Kadena, Okinawa, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

After his discharge, he returned to Wisconsin, and he and Alice were married on July 11, 1964, in Ingleside, Illinois. Ron worked at a printing firm while Alice taught in the Rhinelander School District.

Working with Alice, a first-grade teacher, Ron found his love for working with children, so he attended Northern Illinois University to get his teaching degree in Elementary Education, graduating in 1968. Ron spent the next 30 years full-time, and then the following 14 years as a substitute teacher, all at Fair Park Elementary School in West Bend. Finally, Ron completely retired in 2012. He was also a Member of the West Bend American Legion Post 36.

Ron enjoyed camping, fishing, reading, crossword puzzles, and jigsaw puzzles. He was also a big fan of the Packers and the Brewers. Traveling took him to many parts of the Midwest, with Washburn and Wabeno among his favorite camping spots. Numerous trips were also taken to Montreal and Quebec City, Canada.

Ron is survived by his wife, Alice; sons Randy (Tammy) of Kewaskum and Jim (Jenny) of West Bend; grandchildren Ashley (fiancé Tim Voigt) Kegley of West Bend, Amber (Tim) Gensler of Three Lakes, and Jonathan (Lauren Gebler) Kegley of West Bend; nine great grandchildren, Chloe, Jolene, Kinsley, Annabelle, Abigail, Decorah, Asher, Mable, and Henry; Brothers, Dennis (Dorothy) of Crandon WI, and Lanny of Belmont, NC; sisters, Vicki (Rick) Larson of Rhinelander, WI, and Janice of Wausau, WI; Sisters-in-law, Barbara of Muskogee, OK and Elaine of Ripon, WI. Also, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Talmage and Millie Kegley; his older brother, Gary; his in-laws, Felix Raymond and Leora Catherine Stanton; and his brother-in-law, Larry Stanton.

Services for Ron will be held on Thursday, December 18th, at St. James Episcopal Church, 148 S. 8th Ave, West Bend, with Father Ben Hankinson officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be from 1:00-3:00pm, with the service starting at 3:00pm. Committal will take place later in the spring of 2026.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. James’ general fund for maintenance of church grounds.

Myrhum-Patten Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with Ron’s arrangements.