Ronald Schmal

God, Dad and Mom called me home on Thursday, May 19, even though I did not go easily. I had a full life here and I felt I was just getting started. I did not listen to the doctors at first telling me I would have a short time left here on earth because of Cholangiocarcinoma Cancer. Even though I was only given a few weeks I made it almost three years – still too short of a time.
I came into this world on April 9, 1952, the only child to Raymond and Louise (Hoffmann) Schmal of Dyersville, Iowa. I knew from a very young age I wanted to be in the stars so I obtained my pilot’s license when I was 17. I then went on to graduate from Beckman High School. I moved on to Iowa State University to start college. While in college, I took on a part- time job, which lead to my first career, the second youngest owner of a Sambos restaurant in Winona, Minn. I worked many years in the restaurant business owning a few different restaurants. In 1982, I made a change to my final career, owning Advanced Business Systems, Inc., in La Crosse, Wis. This business started from nothing and I was blessed to have some lifelong employees who have worked for me and my partner, (retired Steve Lathrop). I thought of my staff as my family and always proud to have them on my team.
My passion was flying. I volunteered my time with several organizations over the years. My greatest achievement was working with a pancake breakfast at the La Crosse Airport and helping to turn it into the Deke Slayton Airfest and being blessed with so many airshow performers including the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds. I also flew parachute teams including the Leap Frogs and Aero All- Stars. Over the years, I met so many lifelong friends from helping with Freedomfest, Freedom Honor Flight, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, La Crosse Flyers; I was the first pilot to take kids up on the Young Eagles, La Crosse Skyrockers, EAA member and lifetime Beech Craft Society member, Angel Flight, Boy Scouts, La Crosse Thanksgiving Dinner and many more. I also helped with the Green Bay Packers with fly-overs to start the game. I always tried to give back to the community. I always believed in pushing everyone to the top.
I believed in love and from each of my marriages gained family. My first marriage to Rebecca gave me my oldest son, Marty Schmal. My second marriage was to Linda. I was blessed to help raise Sarah (Dan) Miles and two grandchildren, Wren and Tate. My last marriage to Anne, I gained Korey (Corey Hensel) Rasmusson and grandchildren Emiliegh and Oliver, Kaitlyn Shaw, Karly (Steven Hurley) Rasmusson and my youngest two children Dakota and Steven Schmal. God could not have given me better children and challenges.
A Service of Remembrance will be held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, May 26th, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 200 West Ave. So., La Crosse. The family will be receiving guests from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Following the service, family and friends are invited to celebrate Ron’s life further at The Greenery in the Day’s Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 101 Sky Harbor Dr., La Crosse.