Ralph N. Hoaglund

Ralph Hoaglund, 91, of Homestead, Wisconsin, passed away on February 15, 2017 at ManorCare Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Kingsford, Michigan. Ralph was born on December 29, 1925 in Iron Mountain, Michigan, to Edwin and Esther (Thomas) Hoaglund. A lifelong resident of the area, Ralph attended grade school in Homestead, and graduated with the Kingsford High School class of 1943. After High School, he enlisted in the Navy, serving the last half of WWII in the South Pacific, reaching the rate of Petty Officer Second Class, Radioman. In May of 1948, Ralph married Rhoda Osterberg, who became his right arm in all of his ventures. They enjoyed 66 years, in fact just one day short of 67 years, before Rhoda passed in May of 2014. In the early 1950’s, Ralph took over his father’s dairy farm for a few years, but gave that up in favor of retail employment with Montgomery Ward before assuming the position of General Manager of the Florence County Cooperative in Aurora, Wisconsin. During his 25 years there, he greatly expanded the services that the Co-op offered to its members. Professional associations related to his service at the Co-op included Loan Officer and Assistant Treasurer of the Co-op Credit Union, Chairman of the Midland Manager’s Association of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and General Chairman of the Midland Managers’ Association in Minneapolis. Ralph took pride in service to his community including as a Charter Member of the Homestead-Aurora Conservation Club, serving as President or Secretary for nearly fifty years. Ralph also served on the Homestead Town Board as a Supervisor for ten years. Being a historian at heart, Ralph helped celebrate the Homestead Centennial in 1994 by writing The Town of Homestead: From Things I Have Heard and Things I Remember with input from the community and much help from his first cousin, Marion Hoaglund. In his “retirement” Ralph worked as a Logger and Sawyer, then tried his hand at making maple syrup, and what started as a hobby turned into an award-winning business. Ralph and Rhoda were honored in 1991 at the North American Maple Syrup Convention with the first place award for light amber syrup and in 1997 as the Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producer of the year. In his second “retirement” he turned his Sugar Shack into a wood-working shop, where he continued to work with the wood from his beloved Peaceful Acres. In addition to his parents and wife, Ralph was preceded in death by his brother Bob, his grand-daughter Heather LaBine Bahr, his son-in-law David LaBine, and his son-in-law Barry Reinheimer. Ralph is survived by his three children, Rhonda LaBine of DePere, Wis., Wesley Hoaglund and Susan Reinheimer both of Orlando, Fl., sister Janet (Melvin) Dahl of Arlington Heights, Ill.; grandchildren Andrea and Brian LaBine, Axel and Emily Reinheimer; great-grandchildren Alexis, Indica, Olivia, Shonn and Seth; and great-great grandchild Chloe, with another on the way. Ralph was very proud of his family and their contributions to society. In accordance with Ralph’s wishes, private family services will be held at a later date. Burial will be in the Aurora-Homestead Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.

Ralph N. Hoaglund

December 29, 1925 - February 15, 2017