Ronald J. Ebacher

Ronald J. Ebacher
If strength and perseverance were defined together in a picture dictionary, Ronald J. Ebacher's photo would appear. Ron, Dad, Papa, Reggie passed away from lung cancer on April 13, 2024 leaving behind a legacy of mechanical talent, friendship, humor and compassion shown to family, friends and strangers throughout a blessed and long life. Ron was born March 18, 1938 in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, the eldest son of George and Nellie (Stensberg) Ebacher joining a family that grew to six siblings. He grew up on the family dairy farm in Rudolph, WI where he attended Hillview, a one-room school house, and later, Rudolph High School. On the farm and from his parents, Ron learned a work ethic that drove him and those to whom he passed it to work until the job was done well, ingeniously, creatively, faster and better. As a child home sick one day, he was assigned the task of grinding tallow for soap, but instead of laboring all day as most did, he attached a drill to the handle and created an automatic grinder that finished the job quickly to allow for more nap time. While on the farm under burning sun and in the freezing cold he picked rock, bailed hay, moved feed and sileage, learned to fix machinery, tended all manner of animals, cared for the fruit groves and vegetable gardens, and learned to cut, chop, cook, can and clear anything and everything. No task was ever too small, too difficult or too complicated to do and do correctly.
After leaving high school, Ron served a four-year apprenticeship at Preway, Inc., becoming a master millwright for Consolidated Papers at Consoweld and at the Biron Papermill retiring in 1997 after more than 40 years of service. Ron was a proud union member for the Machinists and Aerospace Workers for more than 35 years. His skills were impressive. He quietly studied mechanical issues to determine causes of problems and could make, fix, weld, re-wire, de-rust, de-dent or build almost anything. At 19 he married his love, Rose Marie Huser, on October 26, 1957. They were blessed with five children that he worked tirelessly to support including leaving in the cold, dark morning hours for shift work. He lived his lifetime in the home he literally built for his family. Together, they camped, travelled, played games and worked together. He sacrificed and cashed in his vacation time to pay for travel all over the United States including Texas, California, Colorado, Iowa and many other places. Trips always were via the family station wagon, pop-up camper, box of maps, AAA triptiks and home-made sandwiches. Ron and Rosie together taught their children to work hard and be disciplined, but to enjoy life-especially if a prank could be played from time-to-time. He was the first to organize epic games of tag in the swimming pool and kickball at the campsite with anyone he could round up to join in. He also handed out no-nonsense discipline and expectations to his family including "no swimming until you five get the campsite set up." He believed strongly in his principles and held steadfastly to his opinions. He always challenged his children to perceive the world around them, make it a better place and to learn and adapt-whether it was to pick up litter, straighten a rug people may trip over, or to mind your manners at a birthday party. Ron was married for more than 40 years to Rosie until her untimely and early passing in January 1999. On June 16, 2001, he married Joanie Bliek. Through Joanie, he experienced craft fairs, a deep devotion to his faith and another family. He was blessed to have several decades of life with her.
Ron was a caring, loved husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, cousin, uncle and friend. He enjoyed his Green Bay Packer season tickets. He was a member of the Elks Club of Wisconsin Rapids serving as Purser and receiving the Elk of the Year for his endless service to the club. Ron owned a 1929 Model A Ford used to take cartloads of children to the zoo and to buy Christmas trees. He and his sons undertook a years-long project and restored it to its former glory and to many accolades and awards for their meticulous job. Ron also liked to restore old tractors, ice fish, four-wheel and hunt. His vegetable gardens were legendary-planted in perfect concentric circles with potted flowers in the middle. His home and workshop operated on a series of mechanical miracles that deserve patent status including a can-crusher, barrel sander, and equipment that is completely mobile and movable up and down.
Throughout his life and during his retirement with Joanie, he enjoyed helping others. He built life-long friends through his random acts of kindness including to Helen at the Little Pink whose job he saved when he woke her from a late-shift nap immediately before her boss walked in, to the daycare across the street that benefited from his bicycle-repair skills and to various friends of his children for whom he performed many fix-it, cost-effective mechanical and repair miracles. He was loved by many.
Ron was preceded in death by his wife, Rose Marie and his beloved sons, Timothy J. (Marlene Hobart) Ebacher and Thomas J. Ebacher. He was also preceded in death by his parents and brothers Roger and James. He is survived by his wife Joanie, daughters Colleen M. (David Rini) Ebacher and Cathleen A. (Alex Dittrich) Ebacher and son Allen J. Ebacher. He is also survived by his sisters Jean (Sal) O'Shaski, Sharon (Robert) Jaborek and Carol (William) McGuire. He is further survived by many grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins, and members of Joanie's family.
Due to Ron's lifelong love of and fun with Model As, donations may be made in Ron's memory to the Central Wisconsin Model A Ford Club, PO Box 492, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494.
Visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024 at the Herman Taylor Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids. A Funeral liturgy will be held at 11:00 a.m. All are invited to lunch that will follow after a brief ceremony at the cemetery.