Ronald A. Gray

Ron Gray passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, May 10, one week from his 90th birthday. Ron was born on May 17, 1935 in Clear Lake, Iowa. His family moved to Maiden Rock, Wisconsin when he was four. Ron attended Maiden Rock schools where he excelled at sports and working extensively for area farmers.

Ron married Rosalie Johnson on June 8, 1957. Rose was the love of his life. She provided strong and wise guidance to him when needed (and it was needed often). She was a true partner to him in all of his endeavors. She was instrumental in helping him build a relationship with Jesus Christ.

After a somewhat modest high school academic career, Ron enrolled at the University of River Falls, graduating in 1960 with a degree in Math and Chemistry.

Ron had a passion for kids and teaching. He started his first teaching job in Madison, Wisconsin in 1960. He taught there until 1966 at which point he made a major life change by moving his family with him to Boston to complete his Masters in Mathematics at Boston College.

After receiving his Masters in 1967, he moved his family back to Red Wing to enable his kids to be closer to their grandparents and family. For much of his teaching career in Red Wing he taught what he called “Mental Gymnastics” – Algebra, Calculus, and Computer Science to numerous talented high school students who went on to highly successful careers. Ron also interacted with or taught kids who struggled with school and life. He was good with these kids because he once was one of these kids. He was equally as proud of their life successes. His favorite sayings to all of his students were - “Learning never takes a day off” and “A sign of an educated person is they never make the same mistake twice”.

Ron started a side-hobby in farming in the late 70’s, renting 40 acres while still teaching. After retiring from teaching, he scaled his “hobby” to over 1400 acres. His wife said he would have rented all of Pierce County if she had not put on the brakes. He continued to rent land from all the old farmers he knew while growing up until he became the old farmer himself. If farming was not enough, he was President of Stockholm Mutual Insurance Company for eighteen years during this time.

He loved to teach and he loved to farm. He was a huge friend and role model for not only students, but all the people God put in his life. He was known as “Lightning” to his Maiden Rock classmates, “Uncle Ron” to his nieces and nephews and their kids, “Grandpa” to his five grandchildren who he adored greatly, and “Dad” to his two sons. He loved the Lord, people, coffee, and an occasional brandy.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Charley and Marjorie and his wife Rosalie. He is survived by his son Michael (Lauri), his son Peter (Kristen), and his grandchildren Josh, Lexi, Halle, John, and Henry.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Saturday, June 14th, at First Covenant Church in Red Wing with a visitation at 10:00 am.  The service will be live-streamed and can be viewed here. In lieu of flowers, donations can be directed to the First Covenant Church or Red Wing Public Schools Foundation. Arrangements are by the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel in Red Wing.