Ronald Melichar

Ronald P. Melichar of Saukville was a community-minded man — a decorated Marine during the Vietnam War and a longtime volunteer with the Boltonville Fire Department.

He joined the Marines after graduating from Cedarburg High School in 1966 and was awarded the Purple Heart for his service in the war.

He also received the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

Mr. Melichar packed care boxes for soldiers in the field through Wisconsin WE Care for about 15 years, his wife Joyce said, and was a member of the Kewaskum American Legion Post 384 and the Newburg Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans.

Mr. Melichar later served with the Boltonville Fire Department for more than 30 years.

“They were always looking for help, and he liked to help his neighbors and the community,” his wife Joyce said.

“We got to know everybody in Boltonville.”

Mr. Melichar died at Virginia Highlands Health and Rehab in Germantown on Sunday, Dec. 30, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. He was 70.

He was born in Port Washington on Sept. 3, 1948, the son of Leo and Mary Jane Klos Melichar.

He grew up in Cedarburg, and met his future wife Joyce Breger in 1970. They were at a teen bar in the area, and she and a friend gave him a ride home, she said, adding they met again after her friend and his brother each received speeding tickets and ran into each other while paying them.

“We went out afterward to celebrate,” his wife said.

The couple married at Holy Hill in Richfield on June 12, 1971, and lived in Boltonville for 44 years before moving to Saukville.

Mr. Melichar was a maintenance mechanic for Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac for 42 years, retiring in 2005.

He was a mechanically minded man who loved to tinker in his workshop at home, his wife said.

“He was always working on cars, doing electrical stuff,” she said. “He would work on his garden tractors — I think he had seven of them.”

He also drove race cars in his younger days and participated in demolition derbies in Cedarburg, she said.

Mr. Melichar was an outgoing man who enjoyed Sprint Car races, hunting, farming and rooting for the Green Bay Packers.

He also loved his cats, Autumn and Ashes.

“He was pretty amazing,” his wife said.

Mr. Melichar is survived by his wife Joyce of Saukville; daughters Liza Butler of Fitchburg and Kelly (Kevin) Settele of Fredonia; and grandchildren Naomi Melichar and Bobby Ward.

He is further survived by his mother Mary Jane Melichar of West Bend and brothers Alan (Sue) of Allenton and Brian (Lori) of Cumberland.

He was preceded in death by his father Leo and brother Loren.

A celebration of Mr. Melichar’s life will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, at the Boltonville Fire Station. Military honors will be offered at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Vietnam Veterans, Boltonville Fire Department or Washington County Humane Society are suggested.

Funeral arrangements are being held through Eernisse Funeral Home, Port Washington.