Samuel Augustine "Augie" Ronnerud, age 96 of Wiota, WI passed away Saturday, September 25, 2010, at Monroe Clinic Hospital in Monroe, WI. He was born October 4, 1913 to Peter Julius and Hattie (Benson) Ronnerud on the family farm in rural Gratiot, WI. Augie married Grace Laura Paulson of the Hollandale area on April 3, 1943. They had seven children. Augie lived his entire life in the Wiota area, where he farmed, quarried and crushed rock, and sawed lumber in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. He and Grace were members of Wiota Lutheran Church and Sons of Norway-Vennelag #513 in Mount Horeb, WI. They made several trips to Norway visiting relatives and friends and enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, with their family when the children were young and later by themselves. Augie lived at Angelus Retirement Center in Monroe since November of 2007. He was about to celebrate his 97th birthday on October 4, 2010.
Augie enjoyed dancing and could cut a smooth line waltz by remembering how the furrows in the field were laid out. He loved music and used his rich bass voice when harmonizing with the family. He will always be remembered by his family and friends for his rib-cracking hugs and death-grip handshakes. He was known to drop his upper denture for photos knowing full well he would receive a scolding from Grace. Guests from many corners of the world visited his home and when they left, they were heard to say "I am glad to have met you" to which he would invariably respond, "I am glad you have met me, too." He had a penchant for going to auctions and bringing home boxes of junk that only cost a quarter. Augie enjoyed pulling pranks, whether it was on grandchildren or others.
Augie is survived by seven children: Karen Ronnerud of Plymouth, MN, Linda Alanen of Madison, WI, Martha (David) Peterson of Wiota, WI, Peter (Elaine) Ronnerud of Mound, MN, Clara (Janet Pierson) Ronnerud of Sacramento, CA, Mary (Kevin) Cox of South Wayne, WI, and Lori Ronnerud of Madison, WI; nine grandchildren: Maija Alanen of Las Vegas, NV, Marit (Sam Drake) Alanen of Tucson, AZ, Didrik (Elizabeth Schoenknecht) Peterson of Inver Grove Heights, MN, Siri Peterson of Portland, OR, Kara (Chris) Ronnerud Schock of Milwaukee, WI, Kristin Ronnerud of Hudson, WI, Joshua and Jason Cox, both of Madison, and Jami Guimond of Madison; and one great-granddaughter: Solveig Grace Peterson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Grace, on December 26, 2003; his grandson, Jesse Cox, in 1995; two sisters: Margaret Sorenson in 1991 and Dorothy Rebecca Skattum in 2003; and two brothers: Philip Ronnerud in 1988 and Grant Ronnerud in 2005.
Funeral services will be held Monday, October 4, 2010, at 11:00 A.M. at Wiota Lutheran Church, 6682 State Road 78 in rural South Wayne, WI with Rev. Luke S. Smetters officiating. Burial will be in East Wiota Cemetery in rural Wiota with a lunch following at the church. A visitation will be held Sunday, October 3, 2010, from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the church. The Erickson Funeral Home in Argyle, WI is serving the family. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.
Augie will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved him. Ha det bra.
Augie enjoyed dancing and could cut a smooth line waltz by remembering how the furrows in the field were laid out. He loved music and used his rich bass voice when harmonizing with the family. He will always be remembered by his family and friends for his rib-cracking hugs and death-grip handshakes. He was known to drop his upper denture for photos knowing full well he would receive a scolding from Grace. Guests from many corners of the world visited his home and when they left, they were heard to say "I am glad to have met you" to which he would invariably respond, "I am glad you have met me, too." He had a penchant for going to auctions and bringing home boxes of junk that only cost a quarter. Augie enjoyed pulling pranks, whether it was on grandchildren or others.
Augie is survived by seven children: Karen Ronnerud of Plymouth, MN, Linda Alanen of Madison, WI, Martha (David) Peterson of Wiota, WI, Peter (Elaine) Ronnerud of Mound, MN, Clara (Janet Pierson) Ronnerud of Sacramento, CA, Mary (Kevin) Cox of South Wayne, WI, and Lori Ronnerud of Madison, WI; nine grandchildren: Maija Alanen of Las Vegas, NV, Marit (Sam Drake) Alanen of Tucson, AZ, Didrik (Elizabeth Schoenknecht) Peterson of Inver Grove Heights, MN, Siri Peterson of Portland, OR, Kara (Chris) Ronnerud Schock of Milwaukee, WI, Kristin Ronnerud of Hudson, WI, Joshua and Jason Cox, both of Madison, and Jami Guimond of Madison; and one great-granddaughter: Solveig Grace Peterson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Grace, on December 26, 2003; his grandson, Jesse Cox, in 1995; two sisters: Margaret Sorenson in 1991 and Dorothy Rebecca Skattum in 2003; and two brothers: Philip Ronnerud in 1988 and Grant Ronnerud in 2005.
Funeral services will be held Monday, October 4, 2010, at 11:00 A.M. at Wiota Lutheran Church, 6682 State Road 78 in rural South Wayne, WI with Rev. Luke S. Smetters officiating. Burial will be in East Wiota Cemetery in rural Wiota with a lunch following at the church. A visitation will be held Sunday, October 3, 2010, from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the church. The Erickson Funeral Home in Argyle, WI is serving the family. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.
Augie will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved him. Ha det bra.