Judge Gerard W. "Gerry" Ring

The memorial Mass for Gerard "Gerry" W. Ring will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rochester, with Father Charles Collins officiating.

Judge Ring, 76, of Wabasha, died Friday evening, Oct. 24, 2014, at Mayo Clinic Hospital - Rochester, Saint Marys Campus.

Gerard William Ring was born Oct. 12, 1938, in Theilman, to John and Phoebe (McMillin) Ring. His early years of schooling was from rural Wabasha County Schools and McCahill School in Lake City. Gerry attended St. Felix High School in Wabasha and graduated in 1956. He went on to attend St. Thomas College in St. Paul; and obtained his BA from Georgetown University. He then went to the University of Minnesota for his law degree; he also attended Harvard University. He was a Bush Scholar. On Sept. 18, 1965, he married Carole Ann Peters in Glen Lake; she died Nov. 6, 2004. He married Mary Pat Devney on July 7, 2006, at the Church of St. Patrick in New Prague.

He practiced law in Rochester in the early years of his career, and was elected Olmsted County Judge in 1972, and then became chief judge. The last two years of his legal career, he served as Wabasha County judge, retiring after 30 years in 2002. While serving in Wabasha County, he was instrumental in establishing the Wabasha County Drug Court, and became the chief judge of the entire 3rd Judicial District. Judge Ring also farmed for several years and enjoyed raising horses, sheep and cows. He was a former member of the Toastmasters International.

Judge Ring is survived by his wife, Mary Pat Ring of Wabasha; one daughter, Angela (Rock) Bobick of Buffalo; four sons, John (Allison) Ring of Schoolcraft, Mich., Joel (Stephanie Boraas) Ring of Bloomingdale, Ill., Chris (Sarah) Ring and Kevin (Kori) Ring, both of Elgin; two stepdaughters, Holly Holets of Minneapolis and Katie (Elisa) McManus of New Orleans; two stepsons, Nason (Katie) Holets of New Prague and Dan (Karlee) Holets of Winona; 11 grandchildren and four step-grandchildren; three sisters, Sister Pat MM of New York, N.Y., Phoebe Ann Brunholzl formerly of Oronoco, and Margaret (Ron) Wagner of Bellechester; and one brother, Dr. Leon (Kathy) Ring of Tennessee.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Carole, seven brothers, and one sister.

Friends and family may visit from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the Schleicher Funeral Homes, Plainview Chapel in Plainview.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Schleicher Funeral Homes, Plainview Chapel, 10 E. Broadway, PO Box 608, Plainview, MN 55964. 507-534-2353.

Guest register may be signed online at schleicherfuneralhomes.com.