Ronald Thompson

PLEASE NOTE: Ron's visitation tomorrow (Monday) will now begin at 9 a.m. instead of 10 a.m.

Ronald Thompson, age 86, of Spring Valley, died Friday, December 19, 2025, at United Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Visitation for Ron will be Sunday, December 28 from 2-5 p.m. at Gilman Lutheran Church, Spring Valley and for one hour prior to the service at church on Monday. Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite sports team apparel in honor of Ron’s love of Sports.

Funeral service will be on Monday, December 29, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Gilman Lutheran Church, Spring Valley.

Burial will be in Gilman Lutheran Cemetery, Spring Valley.

Ron was born November 15, 1939,  to Gerhard and Nora (Hurtgen) Thompson on the family farm in Gilman Township, Pierce County, Wisconsin.  He was baptized and confirmed at Gilman Lutheran Church, Spring Valley.

Ron attended Spring Valley Schools and graduated with the class of 1958.  He also attended Vo-Tech in New Richmond where he studied Agriculture as part of his career as a Milk Tester for St. Croix County D.H.I.A. Ron began testing milk when he was 19 years old.  He also served in the U.S. Army and Reserves (Red Arrow) from September 1959 until July 1965.             

In 1965, Ron married Nancy Nehring. Although they parted some years later, he continued to keep in contact.

On March 19, 1976, Ron married Sue (O’Connell) Mueller, the woman who became the love of his life, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Baldwin. They were married for 37 years until her death in 2013. When Ron & Sue returned to the family farmstead, he began his life of active service to his community, playing important roles in nearly all aspects of local life, including: Gilman Lutheran Church, the Pierce County Fair, 4-H, the Lions, Sons of Norway, Baldwin American Legion, Spring Valley Hawks, the Stagehands, several dairy promotion organizations, bowling league, SV Seniors Staying Put, SV Community Cancer Fund, and more. He was a leader and a role model whereever he went.  

Ron was an avid Brewers, Badgers and Packers fan. Avid. He adored his flowers, homegrown tomatoes, raspberries and green beans, and he never met a homemade dessert he didn’t love.

Over the years, Ron and Sue became like family to so many in the farming community; pre-dawn breakfasts became attendance at graduations, confirmations, weddings, and nearly every sporting event within driving distance.  He missed not one Pierce County Fair from 1963 to 2023. He loved bowling, church, going to the casino in the winter and playing cards all year long. He lived to socialize! He established new relationships everywhere he went until the day he passed. Ron was always a devoted and loyal friend, ready with a hearty hug, and could tell you the name of nearly every person involved in dairy within the tri-county area -- and beyond!

We have lost an extraordinary man. Heaven has gained an extraordinary angel.

Preceding him in death were his parents; wife Sue; sister Marilyn (Lloyd) Fisher; brothers Donald (Becky) Thompson and Harold Thompson; infant sister Rosemary; and in-laws: Peggy and Bernard Kinney; Tom and Rosie O’Connell; Gladys and Chuck O’Connell; Pat O’Connell; Rich O’Connell; and Barry Anderson.

He is survived by: sister Ellen (Steve) Meyer; step-kids Margaret Volenec, Mary (John) Muza, Charles (Rose) Mueller, and Kevin (Kari Jensen) Mueller; in-laws: Tom (Linda) Nehring, Mary Thompson, Mike and Judy O’Connell, Fran and Nita O’Connell, Judy O’Connell, Rosalie (Dick) Newton, Mary Anderson; step-grandchildren Allisson (Nate) Kral, Devon Volenec, Lauren Volenec, Mick (Jamie) Pagels, Brianna (Mark Renstrom Jr) Pagels, Jason Pagels, John Muza Jr, and Mickey Muza; step-great-grandchildren: Connor, Hailey & Dylan Kral; many beloved nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation for Ron will be Sunday, December 28 from 2-5 p.m. at Gilman Lutheran Church, Spring Valley and for one hour prior to the service at church on Monday.

Funeral service will be on Monday, December 29, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Gilman Lutheran Church, Spring Valley.

Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite sports team apparel in honor of Ron’s love of Sports.

Burial will be in Gilman Lutheran Cemetery, Spring Valley, following the service and everyone is invited to join the family for a meal after the burial.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ronald Thompson, please visit our floral store.