Ronald D. Ausen

Ronald D. Ausen, 87, passed away Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Lutheran Retirement Home, Northwood. A funeral service for Ron will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 22, at Schott Funeral Homes-Mittelstadt Chapel, Lake Mills, with Pastor Mark Decker officiating. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Interment for Ron will follow the service at Salem Memorial Cemetery, rural Lake Mills.
Ronald Dean Ausen was born Oct. 18, 1937 in rural Lake Mills, to parents Irvin and Palma (Peterson) Ausen.  He grew up on a farm east of Lake Mills, and graduated from Lake Mills High School in 1955.
Ron worked alongside his parents on the family farm by tending crops, baling hay, raising pigs, and milking cows for many years.  Before his retirement, he also raised beef cattle.
Ron loved fishing trips up north with his buddies, watching football, baseball, and country westerns on TV.  He enjoyed visiting with friends and family, as well as spending time with his nieces and nephews.  A favorite pastime was driving to the Jo Stop and eating at Burker King, always ordering a strawberry shake for dessert.  He loved going for drives and looking at the machinery at Kibble Equipment, Northwood.  
He told countless stories about his childhood days playing with neighbor kids, sledding, skating, skiing, and building forts. One of his favorite stories was that when he was born, the doctor came out to the farm to deliver him and the bill was only $25.
Ron is survived by his nieces and nephews: Sandra (Orlin) Goemann, Shirley Thisted, Kim Slette, Diane (Tim) Fiebelkorn, Darell Slette, and Janet (Ron) Fiedler; and great-nieces and nephews: Daniel, Kristin, Adam, Desiree, Leah, Lindsey, Mackenzie, Katelyn, Dana, Travis, Victor, Ashley, Alex, and Beau.
He is preceded in death by his beloved cat, Silver; both parents; sister, Irene Slette; brother-in-law, Orville Slette; and nephews: Loren and Larry Slette and Bruce Thisted.