Obituary for Ronald R. "Ron" Raddant
Ronald R. “Ron” Raddant, age 70 of Shawano, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday morning, January 9, 2022, in Shawano.
Ron was born April 20, 1951, in Shawano, a son of David and Minnie (Zabel) Raddant. He attended Grass Lake Country School in the Town of Belle Plaine, Franklin Middle School, and Shawano High School graduating with the Class of 1969. Following school Ron was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving from 1971 to 1973. When he returned from service, he farmed with his sister and brother-in-law, Ardis and Gordon Seidelman.
On July 10, 1976, he was united in marriage to the former Pam Olick at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Suring. Following their marriage, the couple moved to Shawano. In 1983 Ron and Pam purchased the farm from Ardis and Gordon. They lived and farmed the family farm until 2005 when they sold the cows. Ron was a diligent worker, having not only worked on the farm, but also at Marion Body Work, Georgia Pacific in Green Bay, and later at Graf Creamery retiring in 2017. Ron and Pam enjoyed hunting, camping, fishing, traveling, playing cards, and shooting pool with friends and family. They did everything together; Ron even enjoyed shopping with his wife. He was not afraid to mention how grateful and blessed he was.
Ron was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church-Belle Plaine, where he remained a member all his life. He was proud to be unofficially known as the best singer in the congregation. Family meant everything to Ron. He loved his children dearly and was enormously proud of each one. Ty and Mark were loved like sons, not as in-laws. He thought life couldn’t get any better, and then grandkids came along. A day didn’t go by that he did not mention how much he loved Addison, Aubrey, Hailey, and Jackson, and that they meant the world to him. Ron shared his love for them every moment they were together, whether they were camping, fishing, four wheeling, reading books, or “napping.” There were always good times with Grandpa, and he will be greatly and sadly missed by many.
Ron was a longtime member of the Shawano County Fair Board, proudly helping at the county fair. He was also a member of the Shawano Raceway and was dedicated to Saturday nights at the races, not only working there but also watching and cheering for his nephew and cousins. Of course, the evenings ended with an after-race beverage, shared with many of the racing crews. Shooting on pool leagues was another great joy of Ron’s. He looked forward to spending Wednesday and Thursday nights with “the boys,” sharing his so-called “words of wisdom” and “infinite pool skills” with them over a beverage or two! Ron was proud to have been able to shoot on the same team as his son, “Fester,” for 15 years. Indeed, he needed those two nights to practice, always hoping to beat Pam when they shot pool together at home.
Left to cherish Ron’s memory are his loving wife, Pam; his son, Jason “Fester” Raddant; his daughters, Alicia and Ty Thorson and Becca and Mark Retzlaff; his grandchildren, Addison and Aubrey Thorson, and Hailey and Jackson Retzlaff; his sisters, Imogene Bartz and Diane Kucksdorf; brother and sister-in-law, Lyndle and Darlene Raddant; brother-in-law, Randy Olick; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Minnie Raddant; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Virgil and Mae Olick; his granddaughter, Alyssa Thorson; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ardis and Gordon Seidelman and Rosella and Emil Siefert; brothers-in-law, Roger Bartz and Ruben Kucksdorf; and sister-in-law, Colleen Olick.
Funeral services for Ronald Raddant will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at 2:00 pm at St. John Lutheran Church-Belle Plaine. Pastor Todd Jerabek will officiate. Interment will be at St. John Lutheran Cemetery with military honors conducted by Shawano AmVets Post #10. Visitation will begin on Friday, January 14, 2022, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Mickelson Funeral Service in Shawano. Visitation will continue Saturday at the church from 1:00 pm until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials are preferred to St. John Lutheran Church-Belle Plaine in Ron’s name.
Ron was born April 20, 1951, in Shawano, a son of David and Minnie (Zabel) Raddant. He attended Grass Lake Country School in the Town of Belle Plaine, Franklin Middle School, and Shawano High School graduating with the Class of 1969. Following school Ron was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving from 1971 to 1973. When he returned from service, he farmed with his sister and brother-in-law, Ardis and Gordon Seidelman.
On July 10, 1976, he was united in marriage to the former Pam Olick at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Suring. Following their marriage, the couple moved to Shawano. In 1983 Ron and Pam purchased the farm from Ardis and Gordon. They lived and farmed the family farm until 2005 when they sold the cows. Ron was a diligent worker, having not only worked on the farm, but also at Marion Body Work, Georgia Pacific in Green Bay, and later at Graf Creamery retiring in 2017. Ron and Pam enjoyed hunting, camping, fishing, traveling, playing cards, and shooting pool with friends and family. They did everything together; Ron even enjoyed shopping with his wife. He was not afraid to mention how grateful and blessed he was.
Ron was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church-Belle Plaine, where he remained a member all his life. He was proud to be unofficially known as the best singer in the congregation. Family meant everything to Ron. He loved his children dearly and was enormously proud of each one. Ty and Mark were loved like sons, not as in-laws. He thought life couldn’t get any better, and then grandkids came along. A day didn’t go by that he did not mention how much he loved Addison, Aubrey, Hailey, and Jackson, and that they meant the world to him. Ron shared his love for them every moment they were together, whether they were camping, fishing, four wheeling, reading books, or “napping.” There were always good times with Grandpa, and he will be greatly and sadly missed by many.
Ron was a longtime member of the Shawano County Fair Board, proudly helping at the county fair. He was also a member of the Shawano Raceway and was dedicated to Saturday nights at the races, not only working there but also watching and cheering for his nephew and cousins. Of course, the evenings ended with an after-race beverage, shared with many of the racing crews. Shooting on pool leagues was another great joy of Ron’s. He looked forward to spending Wednesday and Thursday nights with “the boys,” sharing his so-called “words of wisdom” and “infinite pool skills” with them over a beverage or two! Ron was proud to have been able to shoot on the same team as his son, “Fester,” for 15 years. Indeed, he needed those two nights to practice, always hoping to beat Pam when they shot pool together at home.
Left to cherish Ron’s memory are his loving wife, Pam; his son, Jason “Fester” Raddant; his daughters, Alicia and Ty Thorson and Becca and Mark Retzlaff; his grandchildren, Addison and Aubrey Thorson, and Hailey and Jackson Retzlaff; his sisters, Imogene Bartz and Diane Kucksdorf; brother and sister-in-law, Lyndle and Darlene Raddant; brother-in-law, Randy Olick; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Minnie Raddant; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Virgil and Mae Olick; his granddaughter, Alyssa Thorson; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ardis and Gordon Seidelman and Rosella and Emil Siefert; brothers-in-law, Roger Bartz and Ruben Kucksdorf; and sister-in-law, Colleen Olick.
Funeral services for Ronald Raddant will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at 2:00 pm at St. John Lutheran Church-Belle Plaine. Pastor Todd Jerabek will officiate. Interment will be at St. John Lutheran Cemetery with military honors conducted by Shawano AmVets Post #10. Visitation will begin on Friday, January 14, 2022, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Mickelson Funeral Service in Shawano. Visitation will continue Saturday at the church from 1:00 pm until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials are preferred to St. John Lutheran Church-Belle Plaine in Ron’s name.