Rhonda Oines

1953 - 2025

Rhonda Oines

November 26, 1953 - July 9, 2025

With profound sadness, we announce that Rhonda Kay Oines (Truax), of Wisconsin Dells, Wis., and Cape Coral, Fla., went to sleep and peacefully passed to awake in Heaven with the Lord, her Savior, on Tuesday July 9, 2025.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held on August 11, 2025. Further details will be announced later.

As a strong Evangelist for Christ, we take peace and pride in the knowledge that Rhonda is proudly serving alongside the Lord and will continue to watch over us all and give us many moments of which we can all say, "That's God!" (or maybe we shall now say "That's Rhonda and God").

Rhonda was born to Ronald and LaVonne Truax on November 26, 1953, in La Crosse, Wis. Rhonda had nine siblings, two brothers, Bill and David (Petey) and seven sisters, Marie, Donna, Barb, Terri, Tammy, Patti, and Paula. Being the oldest female sibling, she was often a voice of reason, support, comfort, and sometimes tough love. She took that role and honed a beautiful and unique way of touching many lives through these gifts, becoming a voice of reason, support, comfort, and sometimes tough love for more individuals than any of us will ever know.

Rhonda graduated from Gale Ettrick High School in 1971 and continued her education at Western Wisconsin Technical College where she graduated with her accounting degree. Rhonda met Robert (Bob) Oines in high school where they began dating. After graduating, Rhonda moved to Milwaukee to join Bob who was in dental school at Marquette University. Rhonda would often tell stories of her time in Milwaukee highlighted by her ability to attend as many Milwaukee Brewer games as possible.

Rhonda and Bob were wed on August 13, 1977. They welcomed their baby girl Kristin Oines, into the world on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1991. Rhonda loved to talk about bringing Kristin home from the hospital in a Christmas stocking and, due to Kristin being so tiny at birth, dressing her up in Brewers cabbage patch clothes. Rhonda was an avid sports fan, instilled in her by her father, and loved the Wisconsin Badgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Green Bay Packers. She rarely missed a game and never missed an opportunity to tell an opposing fan "The Bears Still Suck", "Nobody gives a Shit about those Cubbies", or "Go Badgers/Packers/Bucks/Brewers". Rhonda and Bob divorced in 1999, but continued to work hard together and remain excellent co-parents to Kristin. Both showing up and being there for every school event, game, or anything Kristin needed.

Rhonda began her career in Milwaukee at Comprehensive Accounting. After moving from Milwaukee, she transitioned to working for Steiner Accounting, LLC in Madison, Wis., then as an administrative assistant for Dane County group homes.

These endeavors led Rhonda to her entrepreneurial calling at River Bay Premier Camping Resort. Over the next 40 plus years, Rhonda, alongside Wayne, developed River Bay from a 15 site campground to a 325 site resort. Wayne and Rhonda became life partners and spent their lives working side by side, traveling, and raising Kristin. After Kristin chose to go to Florida Gulf Coast University for college, Rhonda and Wayne became the perfect "helicopter parents" splitting time between Wisconsin and Florida. Eventually, they would spend the winters at their beautiful home in Cape Coral, Fla., where they built a wonderful group of friends and made countless memories. Some of Rhonda's favorite activities were taking the boat out to ride in the canals, watch the sunset, play Mexican train in the pool, (which she kept at 99 degrees), and meet friends to listen to live music at local establishments.

Yet, even after Kristin took over much of River Bay, Rhonda still loved returning to River Bay with Wayne in the summer where she could help Kristin and spend time with her River Bay Family. River Bay is where God used Rhonda most to not only build a wonderful resort but touch the lives of countless individuals that have stayed at and have been a part of the River Bay family along the way. Her ability to bring people together, offer guidance, and share the word of the Lord, all at once, was remarkable and it will leave a lasting effect on many forever. She was a light given to us by God and although taken away way too soon, her light will shine on in the lives of those she touched and will never be dimed.

Her surviving family members include daughter, Kristin Oines (Joey); partner, Wayne Schult; brother, Bill (Bonnie) Truax; sisters, Marie (Stephen) Way, Donna (Pounder) Criztman, Barb (Steve) Hovell, Terri (Frank) Perullo, Tammy (Mike) Place, Patti Jessen, and Paula (Danny) Smith; and many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly. Rhonda was preceded in death by her soul dog, Jackson Kay; her father, Ronald; mother, LaVonne; and brother, David.

In lieu of flowers please donate to www.sonshineministries.net, an incredible organization Rhonda was introduced to through Larry and Mary Allen. Rhonda and Wayne had the incredible opportunity last winter of going and meeting many individuals in this organization and seeing the work they perform and the lives they touch, or www.sjude.org. For On-Line condolences and information, go to www.pichafuneralhome.com.

Picha Funeral Home - Wisconsin Dells