Ronald J. Bauerly

Ron J. Bauerly, 72, of Macomb, IL, formerly of Dubuque, IA, passed away unexpectedly the morning of February 11, 2026, at McDonough District Hospital in Macomb, IL.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Leonard Funeral Home, 2595 Rockdale Rd. Dubuque. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. with burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Dubuque.

He was born October 31,1953, in Monroe, WI, the son of John "Jack" and Josephine (Wiegel) Bauerly. Ron spent most of his early life in Dubuque, IA, where he met his wife Robin Kramer while teaching at Loras College. Ron attended Sacred Heart Church and School and graduated from Hempstead High School. He earned his BA and MBA from the University of Iowa and completed his Doctorate of Business Administration at Southern Illinois University in 1989.

Ron began his teaching career at Loras College and went on to teach at Northwest Missouri State University and Brescia College before joining Western Illinois University, where he spent the remainder of his career teaching Marketing and Consumer Behavior. He became a full professor in 1996 and retired in 2015. He was devoted to his students and his students loved him. He served for 20 years as editor of the Journal of Contemporary Business Issues and advised the marketing club.

He loved life and knew no stranger (and everyone was game). He would strike up a conversation with anyone who would listen and was always ready with a joke or pun. Ron loved the Three Stooges, The Twilight Zone, Star Trek, Outer Limits, and Dr. Who, as well as the original Wizard of Oz. Ron also loved his movie club pals and collecting autographs and coins. Ron also was an avid gardener. It started as a little boy with his Grandma Marion and continued all his life.

Halloween was his favorite day of the year, because everyone gave him candy. :) He especially loved his wife and family.

Ron is survived by his wife, Robin (Kramer) Bauerly, his daughter Shannon (Nathan) Orris, and his son, Thomas Bauerly, granddaughters, Olivia and Lillian Orris, mother, Josephine Bauerly, sisters, Beth (Edwin) Whisler and Nancy Mueller, brother Jim (Kathy) Bauerly, aunt Donna Bauerly, uncle William (Nancy) Wiegel, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Bauerly, brother William Bauerly, brothers-in-law, Daniel Werner and Larry Mueller, aunts, Gena (Greg) Sheehy and Kathy (Don) Robinson, uncles, Greg Sheehy and Don Robinson as well as his grandparents.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ron Bauerly memorial fund, and the family will disperse to his favorite causes.

For Ron's friends and family in Macomb, IL, a Celebration of Life will be held at The Park Place in Macomb on Sunday, February 22, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.