Ronald F. Derepkowski

After 8 long years of waiting to see your beautiful face, I have finally come home to be with the love of my life, Barb. I took my last breath on Friday, September 1, 2023, with my loving family by my side. I was 86 years old.

I started my life in Green Bay and stayed there my whole life. I was a devout Catholic and started my education in Catholic schools and then graduated from East High School. After graduating high school, I served in the Army for 2 years in 1957. When I got out of the service, my life truly started.

I met the most beautiful, amazing, crazy woman of my life. Barbara Jean Unsinn was her name and even though she didn't know it a the time, she was going to become my wife for the rest of her life. So guess what? I put a ring on it and changed her last name. We shared 51 years of wedded bliss together until her death on September 5, 2015. Barb, I want you to know that you were my soul mate!!

Together we raised 2 sons, Scott and Steve and Barb also welcomed my daughter, Victoria into my family's life and accepted her as her own. You don't know how honored and grateful I was to know how big Barb's heart was to do that.

I supported and raised my family by working at American Can, that finally ended changing its name to Georgia Pacific for 42 years. There, I met and became very good "travel to work buddies" with Norb Estronga.

I was a very active man my whole life. You could say that I was an avid sports connoisseur. I loved football-GO PACK GO! Baseball was my passion. I enjoyed the Detroit Red Wings in hockey and yes, I enjoyed many years bowling with Barb. If we weren't bowling one weekend at Rendezvous, you could find her and I at Northside the next weekend.

Earlier, I had mentioned the family that Barb and I started together. We are so proud of them all and the families that they had started:

Scott and Kris and their children: Savannah, Josh (Melissa), Mindy and Michaela. Steve and Jodilynn and their children: Maddie, Paige and Bryar. My daughter, Victoria (Donny) Endries and her children: Eric (Renee), Brad Williams and Dustin Endries. 11 great-grandchildren.

The moment I took my last breath, I was reunited with so many long lost loved ones. Besides my soul mate, Barb-and of course, she was the first in line to greet me-I was reunited with my mom and dad, Eunice and Albert "Rusty" Derepkowski, in-laws, Mabel and William Beyer, brothers and sisters-in-law: Sandy and Jim Butterfield, Mike Unsinn and Kenny Beyer, great-granddaughter, Gabriella Derepkowski and our best buddy who pulled me through the loneliness days, Freeway.

I leave behind a truly amazing family. Besides my children and their families, I have a treasured sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Norb Christoph and 2 sisters-in-law, Tina and Laurie Beyer.

Throughout my life there are so many people to thank. A very special thank you to Ronnie DuQuaine, for bringing me to and from church every Saturday until my cough took over. I can't thank Steve and Vicki Georgel, for being the best neighbors anyone could ask for. Steve was always over, checking up on me. And towards the end of my life, I want to send a special thank you to: Dr. Mendoza and his team. A very special thank you to my extended family from ProMedica Hospice: Traci Budahn, Janelle, Lisa and Josh. The comfort and peace of mind you made me feel made my last days on earth special.

I want my sister, Shirley, to know that you were the greatest sister anyone could ask for. I love you with all my heart!! And yes, thanks for being there when I took my last breath. I felt your love.

And finally I want to thank my son, Steve. You don't know how much I want to thank you for being my care giver on my final days and all the other times throughout the years that you were readily available for me when I needed you most. You will be fine-I love you, son!! Love, Dad.

And lastly-thank you, appreciate it!!

Visitation will be held at Newcomer-Green Bay Chapel (340 S. Monroe Ave., Green Bay, WI), Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 4 to 7 PM. A funeral service will follow at 7 PM. Entombment will be in Fort Howard Memorial Park.