Ronald J. Gay

Ronald Joseph Gay Sr. passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. Ron was born March 30, 1932, to Martha R. (Gamalski) and Wilfred P. Gay Sr. at their home in Green Bay, WI. Ron is the 5th of 9 children. Ron attended St. John the Evangelist Catholic Grade School and graduated from East High School in Green Bay, WI, in 1950. While playing football for East High he was given the distinction of being the fastest "Scatback" in the Fox River Valley Conference. Being 5 ft. 2 in. and fast, he left little for people to grab onto. After High School Ron enlisted in the US Air Force. He spent time in Texas at Shepherd Air Force Base; Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, IL; Japan at Tachikawa Air Force Base near Tokyo, Korea, and Upper Michigan at Kinross Air Force Base. He left the Air Force in 1955 with the Korean Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and United Nations Service Medal. Ron's most significant duty assignment was with the Material Squadron. While in the Air Force Ron graduated from United States Air Force Technical School in Airborne Radio Maintenance. Ron (Air Force) served in Korea with his brothers Tom (Marines) and Wilfred Jr. (Army). Upon returning from his service Ron attended UW Madison graduating with a BSEE degree in June 1959 as an Electrical Engineer. On September 6, 1958, Ron married the love of his life Barbara D. Beyer at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Green Bay, WI. Ron and Barb celebrated sixty-five years of marriage this past September. In, 1959, Ron joined Wisconsin Public Service Corporation as a Distribution Planning Engineer. Ron was instrumental in developing an innovative electrical grid for Wisconsin Public Service which is still in use today. After 17 years, Ron left Wisconsin Public Service and started working at Power Systems Engineering based in Madison, WI as a Consultant Engineer. Ron wrote numerous industry articles and gave talks on different aspects of Engineering. In, 1993, he founded his own Engineering Consulting company, Strategic Management Inc., and worked until the age of 80 in 2013. Ron was a devoted husband. He was an outstanding father to his children, playing backyard football and hockey with them to the age of 65. Through his life he enjoyed jogging and at the age of 91 continued to walk a 20-minute mile. Ron was very spiritual and brought his quest for knowledge and insights into all aspects of his life. He found joy in writing books and papers on his spiritual journey and sharing his insights with family and friends. He had an immense thirst for knowledge and understanding of spirituality and science. He incorporated his spirituality into the beautiful gardens he built and meticulously tended too. His spirituality and love story with his wife Barb is the foundation of his book “But Who Am I.” Reflections are visible in his garden of today, along with his spiritual written pages of what each garden meant. Ron has been a Packer season ticket holder since the opening of Lambeau Field in 1957. One of Ron and Barb’s Packer Highlight’s was attending and freezing at the Ice Bowl Championship game in 1967. They stayed to the bitter end and watched the goal posts go down as the fans stormed the field celebrating the Packer win. Ron and Barbara (Beyer) are proud parents of eight children Robert Gay (Rose Calewarts), Sharon Gay (Stephen Platt), Joseph Gay (Lori Averbeck), Catherine Gay (Thomas Wied), Stephen Gay (Deceased) (Jessica Gering), Ronald Jr. Gay (Deceased), Paul Gay (Jessyka Fabry), James Gay. Ron has seven grandchildren, Meredith (Bobby) Crimi, Alex Guay, Oscar (Jude) Platt, Olivia Platt, John (Danielle) Wied, Michael Wied, Audrey Gay; one great granddaughter Leah; one sister, Mary Jo (Gay) Francois; one brother and five sisters in law James (Donna) Gay; Lorraine Gay, Mary Lou Gay, Fran Gay, Kathrine Gay; nieces and nephews further survive. Preceded in death by: two sons - infant Ronald and Stephen; one great grandson Noah; his parents - Wilfred and Martha (Gamalski) Gay; Brothers - Richard, Thomas, Wilfred (Dorlia) Gay Jr., Charles, Wayne (Elayne and Karen) Gay, Glenn (Marian-Jean) Gay; one brother-in-law Frederick Francois. Friends and family are invited to join Barbara and family for visitation between 9:00 AM and 10:45 AM, Friday, November 10, 2023, at St. Louis Church, Dyckesville, N8726 County Line Road, Luxemburg, WI 54217. The 11:00 AM funeral mass will be officiated by Rev. Rommel Da Coco. Full military rites follow with the American Legion Ralph Kline Post 262 of Luxemburg. McMahon Funeral Home, Luxemburg, is assisting the family of Ronald J. Gay. www.mcmahonfh.com