Richard N. Henell

MONONA/MADISON-Ronald N. Henell, 90, passed away on Friday, June 23, 2017, at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg. Ron was born on June 13, 1927, in Bayside, Wis., to the late Harvey and Clara (Meir) Henell. He grew up in Milwaukee and lived in Madison since the early 1960’s. Ron’s passions were boating and sailing. He was a member of the Monona Sailing Club for many years where he won several sailing awards on his Hobie 16 and Hobie 18. He enjoyed time with his family and friends water skiing, tobogganing behind the boat, and sail boarding. He also enjoyed snow skiing and other outdoor activities. In the 1960’s Ron worked for Brant & Nielson Painting and Decorating Co. as a Supervisor leading crews that painted the dome of the Capitol, the State Office Building, Van Hise on campus, the Coliseum, the Chevrolet Plant in Janesville, and many other major Madison landmarks. Ron retired from the DL Evans Co. In 1993. He was known in commercial real estate as a disciplined man of high integrity bringing his strong work ethic to everything he did. His motto was “you don’t wait for your ship to come in; you row out to meet it”. With his usual attention to detail, self-motivation, and creativity, Ron designed his last two homes and drafted plans for others. Ron was a thoughtful problem solver. His curiosity and ingenuity drove him to take things apart just to understand how they worked. He would rather repair an appliance and make it better than replace it. Ron had a wonderful sense of humor, enjoyed all genres of music and loved to sing. Ron said “the secret to happiness is to have something to do, someone to love and something to look forward to”. Ron found these secrets. He is survived by his beloved wife of 38 years, Bonnie, and their precious dog, ShuShu; his son, Steven (Nancy) Henell; his daughter, Karen (James Kitchen) Henell; two grandchildren, Benjamin and Rory; his sister, Nancy (David) Ellefson; his former wife, Shirley Lisheron; and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Kenneth (Carol) Henell. Ron has donated his body to the UW Anatomy Department for medical research.

A private remembrance of Ron’s life will be held at a later date. Memorial gifts may be made to Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg, Wis.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
608-221-5420

COPYRIGHT 2023 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.