Ronald C. Schumacher

BEAVER DAM, Wis. - Ronald C. Schumacher, 52, of Beaver Dam went to his heavenly home after a long battle with ALS on Monday, Aug. 4, 2008, at University Hospital in Madison surrounded by his family.

The visitation for Ron will be at Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam on Friday, Aug. 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. and at St. Katharine Drexel Parish, 127 W. Maple Ave., Beaver Dam, on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Katharine Drexel Parish,

127 W. Maple Ave., Beaver Dam, on Saturday, Aug. 9, at 11 a.m. Father John Schreiter will officate. Burial will follow the Mass at St. Peter's Cemetery in the town of Beaver Dam, where military graveside services will be conducted.

Ronald Carl Schumacher was born Jan. 21, 1956, in Richland Center, Wis., to Ronald and Kathleen (Herlitz) Schumacher. He was a 1974 graduate of the Richland Center High School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1975 to 1977, working for NATO for 15 months while stationed in Germany. Ronald was united in marriage to Jean Guenther on Sept. 21, 1985, at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Astico, Wis. The marriage was blessed with two children. He is a past member of the Tomah, Mauston, Sparta and West Salem, Wis., Lions Club, and past member of the Sparta American Legion Post. Ron was a 1981 graduate of the University of Arizona and was sales finance manager for Waupaca Housing in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. Ron has been battling ALS since 1999. He was a member of St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Beaver Dam.

Ron is survived by his wife, Jean Schumacher of Beaver Dam; his two children, Gabrielle and Jordyn, both at home; his father, Ronald L. Schumacher of Richland Center, Wis.; his sister, Debra Phillips of Iowa; his mother-in-law, Hedwig Guenther of Reeseville, Wis.; many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Ron was preceded in death by his mother; his brother, William Schumacher; his father-in-law, Lawrence Guenther; two brothers-in-law, Larry Lenz and Myron Nehring, his "co-conspirator in crime"; his sister-in-law, Rosie Nehring; and his great-uncle Charlie.

Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam is caring for the family. Online condolences may be offered at http://www.murrayfh.com/.