Ronald James Badgley

RONALD JAMES BADGLEY

     Ronald J. Badgley, 78, of Cass City, formerly of Harbor Beach, entered into enteral life Friday, August 18, 2023, surrounded in love by his family while under hospice care at Northwood Meadows of Cass City.   He was born June 12, 1945 in Harbor Beach, the seventh of nine children born to James and Isabell (McAllister) Badgley.  He married Marian Blanche Linderman on April 6, 1968.

     Ron graduated from Harbor Beach Community High School in 1963 and went on to serve in the United States Air Force from 1963 to 1967, including two tours in Vietnam.  After returning from overseas, he married Marian.  Moving back to Harbor Beach, Ron and Marian welcomed two daughters Sheila and Shelly.   They made their home in Harbor Beach until April of 2020 then moving to Cass City. 

     Ron was a member of Holy Name of Mary Parish in Harbor Beach. A lifetime member of the V.F.W. including Post #9344 of Harbor Beach, Post #3644 of Cass City, and the American Legion post #197 of Harbor Beach.

     After working for Schmalz’s Plumbing & Heating in Harbor Beach for many years, Ron moved on to work at the City of Harbor Beach Water Plant, as a plant operator, until he retired in 2007.  Retirement allowed Ron many, many, many rounds of golf and mornings at Al’s Restaurant having coffee with friends at “the table of knowledge”, some of which had been lifelong.

     Ron’s greatest joy was when we became a grandfather, affectionately known as Pa.  First to arrive in 1992 was Robert William Wolschleger, followed in 1994 by Ronald Jerome Wolschleger, then Gabrielle Elizabeth Gentner in 2000 and John (Jack) Robert Gentner in 2003.  Ron spent many hours with the grandkids, giving them lawn mower rides, teaching them how to “warm up” their ice cream in the microwave, letting them wear his t-shirts as night shirts during sleep overs, smelling their hair after a bath, and letting them do everything he wouldn’t let his daughters do.  On November 19, 2022, Ron welcomed a second granddaughter, Nivyan Wolschleger (wife of Ron Wolschleger).   Getting to walk with her down the aisle was a great source of pride and pleasure for him.

     Being a sports fan was not a hobby but a passion.  Ron watched every sporting event on TV, attended high school football games along with the grandkids football, basketball, and soccer games.  Few plans could be made on Sunday in the fall because, “THE LIONS ARE ON AT 1:00!”.   A Lions fan till the end, always saying this year will be theirs.  He anxiously awaited the televising of the Little League World Series every year, never missing a game.

     Although nothing rivaled sports, Ron enjoyed playing cards (and was always up for a game of pinochle, poker, euchre and cribbage), gambling in casinos, and most importantly visiting with family. Being from a large family gave Ron an abundance of nieces and nephews, the next generation of card players.  Ron loved family reunions and sitting around a campfire catching up on everyone’s life, talking about the days gone by. 

     Ron is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Marian; children: Sheila (Jerome) Wolschleger of Cass City, Shelly (Brian) Gentner of Lake Orion; grandchildren:  Robert Wolschleger of Pontiac, Ronald (Nivyan) Wolschleger of Cass City, Gabrielle Gentner of Grand Rapids, Jack Gentner of Madison, Wisconsin; sister, Donna (Nick) Kloska of Flushing, June (Tom) Fischer of Port Austin, sister-in-law, Freda (Dale) Daniels of Caro; brother-in-law, Glen Detgen of Millington; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings:  Clara (Leo) Ventline, Florence Will, Tom Badgley, Barbara Anderson, Nancy Detgen, and Carol Badgley. father-in-law and mother-in-law, Fred and Marian Linderman; brothers-in-law:  Fred Linderman Jr., and Keith Will.

     The family wishes to thank Northwood Meadows and American Home Care & Hospice for the compassionate care Ron received.

     Funeral service held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 24, 2023 in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City with Brad Speirs of Novesta Church of Christ officiating. The family is asking that everyone wear bright colors as this is a celebration of Ron’s life.   Military honors conducted by Cass City V.F.W. Post #3644 and the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard.  Interment will be in Elkland Township Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to Cass City V.F.W. Post #3644 or the Northwood Meadows building campaign.

Visitation:  4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, August 23, 2023 in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City   

                  10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, August 24, 2023 in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City

Arrangements by Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City