December 19, 2024 – Slinger, WI – Ronald E. “Ron” Held passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at the age of 76. He was born on March 26, 1948, in Hartford, WI to Margaret (nee Schulteis) and the late Richard A. Held.
Ron attended St. Peter Catholic School and graduated from Slinger High School in 1966. He went on to earn both a Bachelor and Master of Science degree from University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. In 1971, he was drafted into the United States Army and serviced proudly for four years at Fort Hood, TX.
Ron began his teaching career for the West Bend School District in 1975 as a Health and Physical Education Teacher. He later became the West Bend High School’s Athletic Coordinator and retired from teaching in 2005.
Despite retiring, he continued to coach, referee, and umpire for girls’ softball, girls’ & boys’ basketball and soccer, and boys’ baseball teams. Recently, he was honored for 50 years of officiating with the WIAA.
In his younger years, Ron played baseball for the Slinger Rock River League Baseball Team and participated in various Men’s Softball Leagues in Southeastern Wisconsin. More recently, he played in a senior baseball league at “The Rock” in Franklin, WI. Every October, he traveled to Arizona to compete in the Men’s Senior Baseball League (MSBL) World Series.
Ron was a 15-year active member of the American Legion Post 486 in Jackson, Wi. He was an enthusiastic supporter and participant in the local 4H program and a proud member of the St. Peter Catholic Church’s ushering staff.
Most of all, Ron was devoted to his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren
Ron is survived by his 101-year-old mother, Margaret A. Held; his children Christopher (Deborah Burki) Held, Chad Held; his siblings: Rick (Lavonne) Held, John “Jack” (Regan) Held; his brother-in-law Don Kern; his niece Michelle (Derrick) Disterhaft; his grandchildren: Nicole (Keith Leisson) Held, Josephine Held, Richelle Held, Cody Held, Joshua Held, Kiera Held, Emma Held, Jack Held and Grant Klumb; four great-grandchildren; and other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Ron was preceded in death by his father Richard A. Held; sister Suzanne M. Kern; son Sean M. Held; and granddaughter Danielle Held.
A visitation for Ron will be held on Thursday, December 19, 2024, from 3:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Phillip Funeral Home – 1420 W. Paradise Dr., West Bend.
A second visitation will be held on Friday, December 20, from 10 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., with the Funeral Mass at 11 a.m., at St. Peter Catholic Church – 200 E. Washington St. Slinger, WI. Inurnment will be at New St. Peter Catholic Cemetery at 2:30 p.m., with Military Honors.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family for a future tribute in Ron’s name would be appreciated.
The Phillip Funeral Home is serving the family: 262-338-2050 / phillipfuneralhome.com
Slinger / West Bend, Wi – Ron Held instilled a lot of great memories in many of the sports families throughout Slinger and West Bend, Wi. Held had a soft spot in the hearts of so many people as he was remembered this week as a referee/umpire, coach, educator, and all-around good guy.
Former UW-Washington County coach and athletic director Deb Butschlick said Held had a way of making games fun.
“He did a lot of basketball games up at the University for me and he always took the intensity out of the game and made it fun,” she said. “He’d give a joke as at the free throw line, he’d say stuff like, ‘Make sure you smile before you shoot.’ He was just so good, especially with the college kids and the men, because they were always so intense, all that testosterone flowing between the two teams. Ron just made the game fun for the players.”
Brian Heimark, athletic director in the Slinger School District, remembered working with Held when he was in West Bend. “I worked with Ron at the high school when he was still coaching soccer and softball; he was always a respected colleague.
“Ron was always engaging, always talking with the kids so they understood what the call was and why he made the call. I was part of some difficult calls by Ron too. Sometimes they went our way and sometimes they didn’t, but he was always on top of things.”
Geoff Radloff played baseball in the same senior league as Held. “He was always happy playing ball,” he said. “Ron played mostly right field.”
Radloff remembered Held was old school behind the plate. “He’s the last umpire I know that used a balloon chest protector. It’s one of those great big fat things that they hold up. They were mostly used by umpires in the 1960s and maybe even the 70s; these things were probably four inches thick with air and every time they have to hold it from the inside, and they just put it up under their neck and he was still using that last year.”
Kraig Sadownikow, owner of American Design, played baseball with Held. “I knew Ron as an educator, coach and teammate. I don’t recall a time he wasn’t smiling. He had the perfect combination of kind gentleman and tough competitor.”
Willie Mueller with the West Bend Baseball Association said Held was great at connecting with kids. “He was very, very influential in helping kids play better baseball. He was always interactive as an umpire. Can’t find a nicer person than Ron.”
Mueller was especially impressed with how Held was able to incorporate education while he umped. “If you ever watched him umpire, I mean, the ball would come down, he would kick the bat and pop it up with his foot, or he tells the catcher to get further in, especially youth. He’s always interjecting, always talking. He always wanted the game to be fun, but fair.”
Services for Ron Held will be December 19 at Phillip Funeral Home from 3:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. and a short visitation at St. Peter Church in Slinger on December 20 from 10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. with Mass at 11 a.m.
