Ronald Leslie Kerl

BUFFALO TOWNSHIP -  Ronald Leslie Kerl age 79 of Buffalo Township, Marquette County, Pardeeville, died Saturday, September 10, 2016 at home surrounded by family.

Ron was born in Janesville, Wisconsin on February 24, 1937 to Leslie and Maybelle Kerl.  He graduated from Janesville High School in 1955 and married Geraldine P. Klemp on August 24, 1957.  After graduating from U.W. Stevens Point with a degree in education and science Ron began his teaching career in Brodhead, Wisconsin.  In 1964 Ron and family moved to Elgin, Illinois where he continued teaching science at the Elgin Academy until 1968 when they bought a small farm in Buffalo township, Marquette County.  Ron continued his teaching career at the Portage Junior High school until 1979.  After teaching Ron worked for Moorman’s Feeds and then FS Cooperative in Oxford until he began employment as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the Columbia County Health Care Center, where he worked for thirteen years until his retirement.  One of Ron’s proud accomplishments was the starting of his pheasant business, Hickory Ridge Farm.  Ron started the family business in 1969 and grew it into a nationally known business specializing in ornamental and flight pheasants sold and shipped nationwide.  Hickory Ridge Farm was known for selling high quality and genetically pure stock.  Ron was especially proud of his strain of the Jumbo Ring-Necked Pheasant.  After selling the business in 2008, Ron retired to spend more time gardening and with family.  Ron’s strong beliefs in his faith helped him through his battle with pancreatic cancer and his volunteering as a ministries aid for thirteen years at the U.W. Hospital in Madison for other cancer patients. 

Ron is survived by his wife of 59 years, Geri Kerl; four children; Kenneth (Rosalie) Kerl, Susan (Mike) Brown, Philip Kerl (Candice Purcell), Holly (Terry) Coyle; aunt, Marion Ludwig (102 years old); four sisters and two brothers; Judy (Ed) Vopelak, Gloria VanHorn, Richard Kerl, Joyce (Joel) Hanson, Paul Kerl and Beth Carter (Larry Rackow), nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.  Ron was preceded in death by his parents Leslie and Maybelle Kerl.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Portage, with Rev. Greg Hovland officiating.  Visitation will be held on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the church. A luncheon will follow the service at the church.  

The family would like to thank Agrace Hospice Care, specifically the staff from the Baraboo office for their personable and compassionate care of Ron and family.

The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.