RONALD ROBERTS

Ronald Evan Roberts “Ron,” age 80, passed away suddenly on Saturday, July 16, 2022 in Neenah, Wisconsin at Theda Clark Medical Center. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Katherine Jean (Dietz) Roberts and her brothers Mike (Rosemary) and John Dietz, two children, Laura (Peter Finch) and Jeffrey (Lisa), four Grandchildren, Elizabeth and Evan Johnson, their father, Greg Johnson, and William and Andrew Roberts, and several nieces and nephews.

Ron was born April 8, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois, to William Newton and Mary Ellen (Williams) Roberts, who preceded him in death. He grew up in Chicago surrounded by many Welsh relatives and was proud of his heritage. Ron was the first in his family to graduate from college. He studied Accounting, and was in ARMY ROTC at the University of Illinois, where met the love of his life, Kay, on a blind date at the U of I on September 11, 1962. They were married in October 1964. Shortly after Ron graduated, he was sent overseas to Vietnam in 1965, where he served in the US ARMY 1st Infantry Division's 2/28^th Black Lions Regiment as an Infantry officer, earning the rank of 1st Lt and the Bronze Star for his service.

After returning from Vietnam, Ron and Kay lived in Illinois until they moved to Neenah in 1970, where they raised two children, Laura and Jeff.  Ron had a talent with numbers and worked as a Certified Public Accountant for firms in Illinois and Wisconsin before founding his own firm, Roberts, Ritschke and Tyczkowski, CPAs, in Neenah, in 1977, where he worked until his retirement in 2009. In 2021, RR&T merged with Hawkins Ash CPAs LLP. Ron was a voracious reader who loved both fiction and history. Later in life, he published his first novel, The Major's Bride. He was very active in his community, serving as a Neenah Rotarian for over 30 years, volunteering at his church, supporting the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, and as a member of Neenah Club. Ron and Kay have positively impacted the lives of many through their charitable contributions. 

Ron was a dedicated, gentle, generous, and passionate husband, father, grandfather, soldier, and friend who will be missed by all of us who knew him. A celebration of Ron's life will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, July 20 at Congregational United Church of Christ (1511 Nicolet Blvd, Neenah, WI), followed by a reception at the Stone Toad (1109 Oneida St. Menasha, WI). Military Honors will follow the service with the Neenah Menasha Veterans Honor Guard.

In Lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that any memorial contributions or gifts will be donated to the

Neenah High School Drama Club OR Watch Us Farm https://www.watchusfarm.com/, supporting Ron and Kay's grandchildren's activities.