Ronald Burns, age 87, a resident of Hayward, died on Friday, April 26, 2024, at Aspen Acres Assisted Living.

Ronald was born on April 18, 1937, in Michigan City, Indiana to parents Melvin and Alice Burns. While in high school, Ronald excelled in football and baseball. After he graduated from high school, he attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Finance in 1959. Ronald served in the ROTC and was honorably discharged from the Army National Guard. While attending college, he met Sandy Bratton, and the couple were later married in 1960 in Elkhart, Indiana. Ronald worked in South Bend, Indiana for 10 years before moving to Brookfield, Wisconsin where he worked as CFO for Allis Chalmers for nearly 20 years. In the early 1970’s, the family began to vacation in the Hayward area and would later buy a cottage on Round Lake in 1982. Ronald then worked as CFO at Grede Foundry in Milwaukee until his retirement. After Ronald’s retirement, the couple would spend their summers at Round Lake and their winters in Florida, until 2019, when they became permanent residents of Hayward. Ronald loved to fish on Big and Little Round Lakes with his family, which is evident by all of his trophy mounted fish on the walls of their home. He also loved to just putter around the yard or in his garden, listening to music, or spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Ronald is survived by his wife Sandy, son Dwight (Rebecca) Burns of Whitefish Bay, WI, daughter Rhonda (Paul) McKeon of Minneapolis, MN, grandchildren Kay, Sean, Ryan, and sisters Melva Freeman, Susan Burns, and many other extended family and friends.

Ronald is preceded in death by his parents.

A memorial service for Ronald Burns will be held on Monday, May 13, 2024 at 11:00 AM, at the Hayward Methodist Church, Hayward, Wisconsin.

Last Update: Apr 30, 2024 8:10 pm CDT