Full Obituary

     RONALD F. MICKLE, age 85, of Thorp, WI, died peacefully at home on Monday, March 20, 2023 surrounded by his loving family under the tender care of Hope Hospice having never recovered from a fall.  A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig's Catholic Church in Thorp.  Rev. Tim Oudenhoven will officiate, and burial will follow in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in the Town of Edson, rural Boyd, WI.  Visitation will be held at the church, on Tuesday, from 9:30 a.m. until time of service. 
     Ronald Frederick Mickle was born on January 16, 1938 in Milwaukee, WI to Homer S. and Helene (Neubert) Mickle.  He spent his early years in the New Holstein, WI area living above a cheese factory where his father was the cheesemaker.  The family later relocated to Milwaukee where he attended St. Leo's Grade School.  He attended Messmer High School where he met the love of his life, Ruth Ann Sutter.  He later attended Marquette University and served in the US Army, activated during the Berlin Crisis in 1962.  He and Ruth Ann married in September 1962.  They welcomed two children, Judith “Judy” in 1963 and Joseph “Joe” in 1966.   The family relocated to Dousman, WI in 1968 and lived on a hobby farm until moving to Thorp in 2008 after a search for a more rural area and prime hunting land.
     Ron started to work for Rex Chainbelt in 1963, which later became Rexnord and then Envirex, working up from the shop floor to a corner office where he was a subcontract buyer, retiring in 1998 after 35 years.  He worked with his hands his entire life as a welder, builder and inventor.  Several of his inventions were featured in the Farm Show papers and he corresponded with people around the country interested in his ideas.  There was almost nothing that he couldn't build or fix.  He was a lifelong reader and when his eye sight failed him, spent many happy hours listening to his books on Audible.
     Ruth Ann, known as Tootsie to the family, preceded him to heaven in 2010.  He was devastated by her loss and devoted the rest of his life to his children and his many projects.  He was also proceeded in death by his parents, his younger brother, Ramon in 2019 and brother-in-law, Ken Sutter.
     He is survived by his two children: Judy Mickle and Joe (Donna)Mickle, both of Thorp; step grandchildren: Joe Nelson and Melissa (Thomas) Samuel; step great-grandchildren: Lucas and Ethan Samuel; his sister: Carole (Raymond) Yankus of The Villages, FL; his sister-in-law Jeanne (Curt) Pitel of Waukesha, WI; and sister-in-law: Jackie Sutter of Hartford, WI, along with other relatives and many friends.
     Memorials to the family are appreciated and will be used for memorial masses at a future date.  The Mickle family would like to thank Kelsey, Jennifer, Meaghan, Megan and all the staff and volunteers from Hope Hospice for all their excellent care during Dad's journey.