Ramona Louise Ward

Ramona L. Ward, 69, of Waukon, IA, died Thursday, July 19, 2018, from complications of a lung disease at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN. Funeral services will be held Monday, July 23rd, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Hanover Cemetery in rural Waukon. Friends may call from 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, where there will be a 1:30 PM scripture service, and also one hour before the service at church.

Ramona Louise Ward was born May 17, 1949, in Spring Grove, MN, the daughter of Emmet and Lillian (Doubek) Schwartzhoff. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dorchester, IA, attended elementary school in Dorchester, and graduated from Waukon High School. On August 19, 1967, Ramona married the love of her life, Gary Ward, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dorchester. The couple farmed in the Hanover area for two decades, raising dairy cattle and crops, along with a menagerie of other animals. In 1989, Ramona and Gary bought and ran the Waukon City Club for fourteen years. She worked hard cooking, bartending, and waitressing. For many years, Ramona also worked for the S&D Café in Waukon until an injury forced her retirement in 2015.

She was a current member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon and a past member of St. Mary's Hanover Catholic Church. She enjoyed watching movies, especially scary movies, and traveling with Gary; they loved going out West and made many trips to Arizona and Las Vegas. A great cook, Ramona made some delicious soups, blonde bars, and strawberry jams. She loved the holidays and baking Christmas cookies. Family was the most important thing to Ramona and she would do anything for any family member. She loved her grandchildren and her dogs Joplin and Pearl held a special place in her heart. For almost 51 years of marriage, Gary was her top priority; Ramona said they "grew more in love with each other every day."

Ramona is survived by her husband Gary of Waukon; "her girls": Tracy (Dave) Ryan of Burr Oak, IA, Denise Ward of Waukon, Sheryl (Rick) Way of Montgomery, IL, and Janice (Jason) Bloxham of Hortonville, WI; eight grandchildren: Spencer, Hannah, and Zachary Bloxham, Molly and Sam Johnson, Justin Ryan, Natasha Rasmusson, and Austin Ryan; four great-grandchildren: Zoey and Zayla Rasmusson and Harper and Oaklee Ryan; a brother Don Schwartzhoff; seven sisters: Mary Ward, Aileen (Pat) Delaney, Carol (Bill) Hancock, Judy (Dennis) Byrnes, Mavis Wishcop, Karen (Dave) Gross, and Kathy (Dean) McClenathan; brother-in-law Jim (Karen) McCormick; and sisters-in-law: Mary Jo (Ernie) Brevik and Colleen (Ron) Bruns.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters: Theresa McCormick and Dorie Bulman; brother James Schwartzhoff; sisters-in-law: Shirley, Vee, and Joann Schwartzhoff; and brothers-in-law: Donald Ward, Duane Anderson, and Kenny Hammel.

Honorary casketbearers are Ramona's grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Casketbearers are Pat and Reggie Schwartzhoff, Dave Ryan, Rick Way, Jason Bloxham, and Wayne Johnson.