Wilfred Edward Sieg Sr.

SIEG, WILFRED EDWARD SR., one of Harrison County’s most beloved personalities passed away at 2:40 a.m. today, February 2, 2006 at the Harrison County Hospital after a well fought battle against lung cancer. He was known to most of us as “Cousin Willie” and President Emeritus of Ramsey Popcorn Co., Inc. “Cousin Willie” was known by people in so many different areas because of his active involvement with his family, his faith, his business and community. Willie was born on March 16, 1931 in Ramsey, IN. He is the son of the late Edward and Agnes Gettlefinger Sieg. He attended elementary school at Schoolhouse #2 (also known as “Possum College”) and graduated from Corydon Central High School. Willie graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, with a degree in marketing, 1953. He was a member of Phi Kappa fraternity. Willie served in the United States Air Force as a first lieutenant. During his tenure in the Air Force, he was stationed in Cheyenne, WY, and Waltham, MA. He was also a member of the Air Force Reserve until 1968. He is preceded in death by sisters Theresa Kendall and Mary Rita Robertson; and brothers, Eugene, Donald, and Mark Sieg. On June 16, 1951, Willie married his high school sweetheart, Doris Marie Byrum from Milltown, IN. After his service in the Air Force, Willie returned to Ramsey and formed Ramsey Popcorn Co. with his parents and brothers. Willie was a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Frenchtown, IN, where he served on the parish council as well as past Picnic Chair. He was a Eucharistic Minister and member of the Men’s CRHP team. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. With the Sieg family being a large part of Harrison County’s population, Willie felt it was his duty to see that everybody had some work to do. The first jobs he gave his kids on the farm were picking up rock and cleaning out hog pens. “That way, by the time they get to working at the popcorn plant, they like it just fine.” Today, Ramsey Popcorn is one of the largest employers in the community. Edward Sieg and his wife, Agnes, began the business in 1944 going store to store selling raw popcorn items out of the back of their truck. The Sieg’s four sons, Willie, Donald, Eugene and Mark took over the business back in the 1960’s. Cousin Willie’s image is portrayed on the company’s largest selling retail product, “Cousin Willie’s Popcorn.” Ramsey Popcorn has grown to be one of the top four popcorn processors in the world. The company has several labels that include “Cousin Willie’s” Microwave and Original Gourmet Popcorn, “CAMP MASTERS,” and “Purdu Pop” popcorn. Willie was a member of the Board of Directors of the Popcorn Institute from 1978 to 1984. He was a member of the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce and served in different capacities while a member. Willie served his community in many ways. He was a member of the Ramsey Lion ’s Club, A Rotarian, a lifelong member of the Republican Party, and a Republican Precinct committeeman. He was a member of the Ramsey-Spencer Grange and the Farm Bureau. He served on the Ramsey Water Company Board of Directors for 24 years. With 13 children, you can imagine he had great interest in the schools’ systems and served on the North Harrison Community School Board for 12 years. To this day, he was a great fan of Cougar (and Lady Cats) sports. He really knew about raising popcorn, but that wasn’t all he knew how to “raise;” besides his wife, he is survived by 13 children : Agnes and James Barnard, Corydon, Wilfred, Jr. and Lena Sieg, Ramsey, Laura and Michael Wood, Bakersfield, CA, Michael Sieg, Jeffersonville, Lisa Sieg, Ramsey, Veronica and Ron Battista, Ramsey, Angela and Andy Janes, New Salisbury, Anthony and Sheri Sieg, Louisville, KY, Eric and Patty Sieg, New Salisbury, Jason and Jill Sieg, Ramsey, Sarah and David Meyer, Virginia Beach, VA, Suzanne and Jason Kaiser, Corydon, and John Paul Sieg, New Albany. He is also survived by 32 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, his sister, Joan Seipel of Lanesville, IN. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, at his church with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation 2 - 8 p.m. Saturday, and noon - 8 p.m. Sunday, with the Rosary at 7 p.m. at Swarens. Funeral arrangements are being made by Swarens Funeral Home in Ramsey, IN.