Ronald F. Maden

Ronald F. Maden, age 79, of Traunik, died unexpectedly in the Emergency Room at U.P. Health System Hospital - Marquette following a brief illness on Tuesday, February 10, 2015. He was born in East Tawas, Michigan on January 29, 1936 to Fred and Bertha "Bunny" (Maki) Maden. Ron spent much of his childhood on his grandparent's farm in Chatham and he developed a deep love for being up north. He graduated from Eben High School in 1953 and began his college education at Michigan State University. Ron served in the U.S. Army and then completed his Bachelors degree from Wayne State University. He married Mildred Glover in 1958 and they had three daughters together. Ron worked for the Junior Achievement Organization and was proud of his time with the organization. Ron went to work in the Cadillac division for General Motor and his career moved him and his family to Detroit, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Lansing, and Birmingham, Alabama. Throughout his career, he always enjoyed vacationing up north. Ron married Shirley F. Wiitanen on October 9, 1976 and after his retirement in 1990, they returned up north to make their permanent home in Traunik. Ron was a faithful member of the Sion Lutheran Church and a member of the American Legion. In his younger years, he enjoyed stream fishing and he always loved sports. Ron was a wonderful people person who always made those he was with comfortable. He appreciated his family and friends, enjoyed telling stories, and enjoyed spoiling his pets.

He is survived by his loving wife of over thirty eight years - Shirley Maden of Traunik; his daughters - Brenda (Tim) Luoma of L'Anse, MI, Diane (Mark) Malyj of Huntington Valley, PA, and Lynne (Kevin) Burke of Shamong, NJ; stepson - Mike (Karen) Bell of Simi Valley, CA; grandchildren - Loni, Kevin, Bryan, Carrie, Karyn, Amy, Peter, Matthew, and Roman; great-grandsons - Colin and Wyatt; sisters - Marjorie (Philip) Keils of Grosse Point, MI and Barbara (Nick) Wagner of Novi, MI; and nieces and nephews - Erik, Leslie, Elizabeth, and Scott. Ron was preceded in death by his father Fred Maden, mother Bertha Germain, stepson David Bell, and grandparents Peter and Ada Maki and William and Leah Maden.

Services will be held at the Sion Lutheran Church in Chatham on Sunday, February 15, 2015. Visitation will be at the church from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Pastor Paul Kelto will conduct Ron's funeral service at 4:00 p.m. Interment will be held at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at 2:00 PM where the American Legion and Vietnam Veteran Honor Guard will conduct military honors. Memorials may be in Ron's name may be made to the Sion Lutheran Church.