Ronald H. Zeman
Ronald H. Zeman departed from this life into the next on May 8, 2023 after a brief, but rugged battle against bladder, liver and bone cancer.
Ronnie was the 8th of 16 Zeman children born to Edna and Henry Zeman on their farm west of Baraboo. He held the honor of being the first of the Zeman children to be born in a hospital.
He grew up on the farm learning the value of a hard day’s work.
He met the love of his love on a blind date, and quickly fell in love with Judith Jane Bell. They eloped and were married on Sept. 1st, 1964. Together they experienced the joys and heartaches that come from 58 years of marriage. They welcomed their first son Brian into the world in 1965, and in 1969 their son Brad. Ron and Judy lived a very active life together. Ronnie enjoyed the outdoors, especially deer and turkey hunting. The second-best thing he ever did besides marrying Judy was to buy the 40 acres of land just north of Loganville. There he taught his sons and grandsons the joy of the outdoors, and together for over 40+ years they celebrated Ronnie’s favorite day of the year; opening day of deer season. Ronnie also took great pride in his work, having been a union journeyman sheet metal worker for much of his life. He would take pride in the jobs he worked, often pointing out buildings in which he had done the sheet metal work on. Ronnie was also an avid trap shooter, having participated in leagues at Merrimac and Roxbury. He not only enjoyed this pastime, but he excelled in it, having shot his last 25 straight this January at the Roxbury trap club.
Ron had a long love affair with the Green Bay Packers. Having experienced the Lombardi years, and the misery of the 70’s and 80’s, his fandom for the Packers hit a high during the Brett Favre years, even attending Super Bowl XXXV with his son Brad in New Orleans. He attended many Packer games with family and the Madison Packer Backers, last attending a game this past December with Brad.
Ron’s Catholic faith was strong. He understood the importance of taking his family to mass, and that in turn helped pass on the faith to his sons. In his later years he grew closer to the Lord, and he and Judy even participated in Bible study during the time he grew sick.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Edna and his siblings; Vernon, Leonard, Helen, Jeff, and Vivian. Ronnie leaves behind his wife Judy and their two sons Brian (Jennifer) and their five children; Zachary (Celia), Alyssa Arrowood (Tyler), AJ (fiancee Kim), Adam (Lyndsee), and Mallory, Brad (Kari) and their daughters Zoe Adamany (Noah) and Annabella.
Visitation was held on Thursday, May 11, 2023 from 4 p..m. until 7 p.m. at Redlin-Ertz Funeral Home, 401 Madison Ave. in Baraboo, WI. A wake service was held on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian burial was held Friday, May 12, 2023 at St Joseph Catholic Church at 11 a.m., visitation was from 10 a.m. until the time of mass at the church on Friday. Burial followed in the Rock Hill Cemetery.
