Ronald J. Brueggen

Ronald J. “Ron” Brueggen, 76 of Onalaska, passed away on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at the Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. He was born February 1, 1948, in La Crosse to George and Ardell (Becker) Brueggen and graduated from Aquinas High School in 1966. Ron went on to UW-La Crosse where he graduated with a degree in business in 1971. While in school he served in the Wisconsin National Guard. 

On June 14, 1969, he married Rita Arlt in La Crosse.

Ron had worked in home building products sales throughout the Midwest. He also served as a life insurance salesman before becoming a meat cutter with Breidel’s Meats, Holmen Meat Locker and retired from Festival Foods.

He was an avid golfer and was a member for many years at Coulee Golf Bowl in Onalaska where he played in the Wednesday night men's league. He enjoyed volunteering at the Friday fish fries for St. Patrick Parish, playing cards, especially cribbage, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. 

In addition to his wife Rita, he is survived by a daughter, Rachel Brueggen of Knoxville, TN; two grandsons, Logan (Anastasia) Mikels of Knoxville, TN, and Landon Stiles of Lenoir City, TN; a great-grandson, Killian Mikels; a brother, Don (Linda) Brueggen of Onalaska; brothers-in-law, Ken Herlitzka of La Crosse, Rudy (Kay) Arlt, Jr. of Goodyear, AZ, Dick (Anne) Arlt of La Crosse and Tom (Linda) Arlt of Onalaska; a sister-in-law, Margaret (Anthony) Spalla, Sr. of Desoto, WI. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Bridget Brueggen in 2015; a sister, Barb Herlitzka; a brother, Thomas Brueggen; brother and sister-in-law Joe and Mary Arlt and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Rudolph and Elsie Arlt, Sr. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 17th at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Onalaska with Msgr. Steven Kachel officiating. A rosary will be recited at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday at the church followed by visitation until the time of the Mass. Private burial will be held at Catholic Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Aquinas Foundation, St. Patrick Parish, or an organization of the donor’s choice.