Roger Gale Ormson, age 72, passed away on the farm where he grew up on December 9, 2019, attended by his wife, daughter, and son after a six year battle against cancer.  Roger was a kind, honorable, and fun loving person who enjoyed being in the company of his family and friends.  His special joy was his children and grandchildren.

Roger was born on December 26, 1946 in Rice Lake, WI, the second of five sons born to Kenneth J. and Deloris (Hanson) Ormson.  He was a 1965 graduate of Barron High School.  He began working at Jerome’s Turkey Productions after high school until his draft number came up to join the military.

He joined the U.S. Air Force in November, 1965 and served his country for 7 years as a Guided Missle Weapons Specialist with Top Secret clearance.  With the Air Force he served in Denver, CO, Big Spring, TX, Minot, ND. Anchorage, AK, and Myrtle Beach, SC and the Republic of Thailand.  While at Webb Air Force Base in Big Spring, TX, he met Marilynn McKay in October 1966 when he was 19 and she was 17.  They were married at Lamesa, TX on January 27, 1968 and traveled together in the Air Force to Minot, ND, Anchorage, AK. & Myrtle Beach, SC.  He was honorably discharged on November 4, 1972 and returned to Barron.  Roger and Marilynn were married 51 years and were blessed with their two children, Julie Anne in 1969 and James Kenneth in 1973.

After his honorable discharge from the Air Force he returned to Barron in 1972 and hired to be a shoe sales man for the Farmers Store where he received his nickname "Shine."  He then worked as a cheesemaker for the Barron Creamery until 1976 when he began dairy farming with his parents.  He bought the home farm and continued to dairy farm until 1998.  He began driving school bus for the Barron Area Schools from 1990-2014.  He was hired as Clubhouse Manager at Rolling Oaks Golf course from 2004-2014.  He drove handicap van for the Barron Area Schools from 2016-2019.  He was a member of First Lutheran Church where he had served on the Trust Fund Committee, the Property Committee, and the Cemetery Board.  He was on the board of directors of Wisconsin Dairies from 1984-1994 and a Founding Director of Foremost Farms.  He was the secretary of the Dusty Trails ATV club for 6 years.

Roger was an avid golfer and ATV enthusiast, and spent many voluntary hours maintaining the ATV trail between Barron and Turtle Lake.

He is survived his wife, Marilynn; daughter, Julie Walker of Barron; son, James (Stephanie) Ormson of Barron; grandson, Daniel Walker of Barron; granddaughter, Chloe Ormson of Barron; brother, Michael (Ilona) Ormson of Pea Ridge, AR; sister-in-law, Carol Ormson of Barron, WI; brother-in-law, Dr. James (Marcy) McKay of Ft Worth, TX; brother-in-law, Rev. Roy (Marcia) McKay of Starkville, MS; nephew, Doug (Tammy) Ormson of Chippewa Falls, WI; nephew, Darren Ormson of Barron, WI; niece, Stacey (Steve) Wood of Weatherford, TX; niece, Teresa (Jon) Willis of Ft Worth, TX; niece, Dr. Reagann (Jon) McCreary of Southlake, TX; nephew, Matthew (Hannah) McKay of West Richland, WA; niece, Marissa Ormson of Pea Ridge, AR and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Deloris Ormson; brothers, Kevin, Jeffrey, and Douglas; and a nephew, Joshua McKay.  

Funeral services for Roger Ormson will be Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Barron with Rev. Ron Mathews officiating.  Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 13, 2019 at Rausch and Steel Funeral Home in Barron and one hour prior to the service on Saturday morning at the church.  Burial will be at the First Lutheran Cemetery at a later date.

Arrangements are being handled by Rausch and Steel Funeral Home in Barron.

Last Update: Dec 11, 2019 7:33 am CST