Ronald W. Colling

Ron was born in Appleton, WI, on November 30, 1942, to Alvin and Laura (Lorenz) Colling and would remain there, building his life, family, and friendships, until his passing on September 6, 2024. He was a hard-working, faith-filled man who always put his family first. 

He attended St. Therese and Sacred Heart parochial schools and finished his education at Appleton (now West) High School. During his high school years, Ron met his wife of 60 years at the Red Owl grocery store. Judy had gone in to apply for a job, and Ron was already working there. She made quite the impression on Ron as evidenced by his lasting memory of what she was wearing that day: black ski pants, white blouse, and a red scarf. And, as they say, the rest was history. They were married on January 25, 1964, and had their first baby, Joseph, in November of that same year, followed by Thomas fifteen months later and Catherine four years after that. His immediate family was complete at the ripe old age of 26.

When Ron tired of being the “Dairy Products Expert” at Red Owl, he joined Miller Electric, first being assigned to an assembly line but eventually working his way up to drafting, then engineering, and finally to Senior Mechanical Engineer. He was one of the last engineers in the area to have earned his way simply through hard work and not through a college degree. He remained there for 36 years, eventually retiring in 2001. His name appears as inventor on 11 US patents. 

He was also very handy and a “do-it-yourselfer,” having designed three of his homes and even doing much of the construction. He could often be seen at any of the various homes of his children, helping them with home-improvement or repair projects. He loved antiques (even having a couple of booths at antique stores for several years) and would repair and refinish his finds, eventually learning how to cane chairs and refurbishing those as a side business in his later years.

Ron liked to be involved, so he also served on many boards and councils and headed many committees. When his children were in school, he began a peanut fundraiser at St. Mary’s elementary school, earning him a picture in the newspaper of him amongst a huge pile of bagged peanuts. He has also served as a member or president on the boards of (what was then) ACES/Xavier, St. Mary’s Church in Appleton and the Villas at Apple Creek where he resided for the last almost 15 years.

His other hobbies at various times in his life included golfing (even getting a hole-in-one one time and winning his flight in a tournament), bowling, cribbage, fixing up an old REO, carving, and spending time (usually remodeling) at their cottage. 

Ron is survived by his wife, Judy; children Joe (Stephanie) Colling, Tom (Jenny) Colling, and Catherine (Brian) Wallace, all of Appleton; grandchildren Chelsea (Greg) Drusch, Reed Colling, Mitchell Colling, Trace Colling, Grant Colling, Abby (Sam) Gannon, Maggie (Michael) Reader, Kieran (Emily) Wallace, Charissa (Matt) Rathsack, Aidan Wallace and Tessa Wallace; and great-grandchildren, Landon Drusch, Lincoln Drusch, Holden Drusch, Eleanor Wallace, Lucy Wallace, Luca Reader and (soon-to-be-born) Carmen Reader.

He is further survived by his sister Betty Koerner and brother Steve (Mary) Colling, brother-in-law Norb (Jane) Uhlenbrauck, sister-in-law Carla (Gary) Krueger, and brother-in-law Randy (Micki) Uhlenbrauck and many nieces and nephews.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Laura; siblings Jackie (Roy) Thiel, Carol (Roger “Andy”) Anderson, and infant brother, James.

We would like to thank Compassus for their excellent help given to Judy in caring for Ron this last year of his life, especially D.J., Craig, and Mazie.

A funeral liturgy for Ron will take place on Tuesday September 17, 2024, at 11:00am, at St Mary Parish, 312 S State Street, Appleton. Friends and family may gather at the church from 9:00am until mass begins. Ron will be laid to rest at St Mary's Cemetery, Appleton.