Obituary of Ronald "Ron" Paul Schleicher

Ronald “Ron” Paul Schleicher, of Chisago City, passed away peacefully with his wife by his side on September 3, 2023, at St. John’s Hospital, after a three year battle with metastatic renal cancer. He was 65.

Ron was born on November 5, 1957 to Clarence and Mary (Klein) Schleicher in St. Paul, Minnesota. He grew up with seven siblings in Lino Lakes and graduated from Forest Lake High School in 1975. Ron then attended Hennepin Technical College to learn the tool and die trade. He was known for his love of motocross and his commitment to competitive wrestling. It was as a wrestling coach that he would first meet the love of his life, Barbara Robertson, the aunt of one of his wrestlers. 

Ron and Barb married in 1980 and began their life in Brooklyn Park, MN. They moved to Oak Grove in 1985 where Ron opened his own business, Brookside Tool, and where Ron later joined the Oak Grove Fire Department. Ron and Barb ultimately had three children, Brent, Krista, and Matt who remained the biggest source of pride throughout his life. Devout Catholics, Ron and Barb raised their children in the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church community alongside many other families. He enjoyed manning the fryer at the annual fish fries, showing off the fire trucks at Countryfest, serving as an usher and server, and joining the Knights of Columbus. Ron was also committed to the Oak Grove Fire Department, and he was known to always have his radio on his hip to respond to any call when it came. He spent over 26 years in the department, many of those years as the training officer for the department.

In 2010, Ron sold his business and went to work for Depotstar in Ramsey then ultimately finished his career at Kapco Metal Stamping in Osceola, WI. In 2016, Ron and Barb took on the task of tearing down the 100 year old home on their Chisago Lake property and rebuilding a new forever home on that site. Up until his death, one of Ron’s great joys was watching the wildlife on and around the lake and journaling the seasonal changes that Chisago Lake experienced. After moving permanently to Chisago City, Ron and Barb joined the community of St. Bridget’s Catholic Church where Ron remained a dedicated parishioner up until his death.

In 2020, Ron suffered a devastating aneurysm while doing yard work with Barb. It was during his hospitalization for his aneurysm that doctors detected his kidney cancer. Due to COVID-19 hospital visitor restrictions, we brought Ron home to recover. He relearned to walk, talk, eat, and perform all his normal daily tasks. His cancerous kidney was removed in 2021 but, unfortunately, it had already spread to his lungs. It is a testament to Ron’s strength that he was simultaneously being treated for cancer and recovering from a traumatic brain injury. His journey was documented on the Caringbridge.org website. 

In January 2023, Ron was able to take his entire family on a dream vacation to Mexico where he swam with the grandkids, ate incredible food on the beach, and toasted to life and family with tropical drinks. In August, his kidney cancer became more than modern medicine could handle and he entered St John’s hospital. The St. John’s ICU was incredible and Ron was able to spend his last few days with each of his brothers and sisters, reminisce with church and fire department friends, and pray with his family at his side. Ron will forever be known for his amazing vegetable gardens, impressive firewood stacks, and for his masterful skill manning the Schleicher apple cider press. 

Ron is survived by his wife, Barb, his three children, Brent (Lauren) Schleicher; Krista (Tim) Bergman; and Matt (Kelli) Schleicher, seven grandchildren, Isabelle (14), Abigail (12), and Jack (10) Schleicher; Elsie (10) and Libby (5) Bergman; Jaxon (10) and Weston (10) Schleicher; and seven surviving siblings, Kevin (Lori) Schleicher; Cathy (Stu) Walker; Linda (Mike) Krueger; Dave (Liz) Schleicher; Jean (John) Hanson; Steve Schleicher; Brian (Linda) Schleicher, as well as many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Mary Schleicher, older brother Pascal Schleicher, and granddaughter Ruby Bergman. 

A visitation will be held at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in Lindstrom on Thursday, September 14, 2023 from 4-8 PM with a rosary beginning at 7 PM. There will be an additional visitation on Friday, September 15 at 10 AM followed by a funeral mass at 11 AM and lunch. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Oak Grove Fire Relief Association, St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, Pro Life Action Ministries, or Midwest Animal Rescue.