Service Details
Memorial services celebrating Ron’s life will be held at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 5:00 pm. A dinner reception will follow. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Tuesday from 3:00 – 5:00 pm.
In honor of Ron’s passion for the Packers, all are invited to wear your favorite Packer attire to the service.
Memorial Suggestions
In memory of Ron, memorials to the Racine “Meals-on-Wheels” program have been suggested.
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Racine – Ronald Richard Stiff, affectionately known in our community on 1400 AM WRJN radio name “Ron Richards”, age 77, passed away suddenly, yet peacefully, on Saturday, May 3, 2025 from complications of emergency bypass heart surgery after being flown Flight-For-Life to Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee.
Ron was born in Tomahawk, WI on October 29, 1947 to the late Richard and Evelyn (nee: Marcoullier) Stiff. He was a graduate of Green Bay Premontre, now known as Notre Dame Academy. Born with a golden voice, Ron was the radio personality & disc jockey for the stations of 1450 KFIZ Fond du Lac, 920 WOKY Milwaukee, 100.7 WRKR Racine, 1130 WISN Milwaukee and 1400 WRJN Racine, from where he retired as station operations manager. One of his career highlights was to be invited as the media guest rider with the Air Force Thunderbirds air demonstration squadron while practicing for a show in Racine. In retirement, Ron faithfully delivered for the Meals-on-Wheels nutrition program.
Back in 1982, Ron met the love of his life, Anne “Annie” (nee: Kole) McConville. They enjoyed the simple things in life: taking care of their home, backyard fires, cooking out, making cookies, and spending time with their family. He was also a Green Bay Packer season ticket holder, avid Milwaukee Brewers fan and looked forward to woodworking projects with his grandchildren.
Surviving are his wife of 43 years, Anne “Annie” McConville; son, Matthew (Sarah) Stiff; step-children, Michael Hamilton and Sara (Edward Bandar) McConville; grandchildren, Ashley (Andrew) Blaylock, Eddie DiPietro III, Taylor (Joseph) Haasch, Lexi DiPietro, Colin Stiff, Jayden Hamilton and Payton Ligocki; great-grandson, Easton Blaylock & 3 more soon-to-be-born little ones; sisters, Roanne Baxter and Carolyn (Scott) Brumund; brother, Patrick (Davida) Stiff; sisters-in-law, Carol Grannon, Linda Erfurth and Andrea Prophet; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, Ron was preceded in death by his former wife, Christine (nee: Gurath) Stiff; and brothers-in-law, Bill Baxter and Donald Grannon.
Memorial services celebrating Ron’s life will be held at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 5:00 pm. A dinner reception will follow. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Tuesday from 3:00 – 5:00 pm. In honor of Ron’s passion for the Packers, all are invited to wear your favorite Packer attire to the service. In memory of Ron, memorials to the Racine “Meals-on-Wheels” program have been suggested.
A special note of thanks to the wonderful staff of Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital, Flight-For-Life, and critical care physician Dr. Kristen Jones for trying everything in their powers to save our beloved Ron. May God bless all of you!
Charles T. Klimek says
I first heard Ron around 1969 on Milwaukee radio WRIT. I still have a WRJN Breakfast Club mug Ron gave me at a live remote in 1994. Ron was a humble, true gentleman, with a great radio voice.
Chris & Walter Koschnitzke says
Our deepest sympathies to Annie and the family. May you all enjoy and cherish those memories of Ron.
Melanie Brewer says
What a beautiful obituary! My sincere condolences to the family.
Melanie Brewer
Annie’s cousin
Ron Walker. WOKY and WRIT says
Condolences to the family many great memories
Kurt Squire says
Ron was so kind. He did a live interview with my daughter and I about the movie “Mrs. Henderson Presents”, she was in years ago with Christopher Guest, Bob Hoskins and Judi Densh. He made a copy of the interview for my Mom to have as well.
He was a wonderful asset to the community
Tom & Janet (Hoff) Karkow says
Ron’s stabilizing presence, whether on-air or behind the scenes, was a guiding force for many of his colleagues at WRJN, including us. His tenure is a significant part of the station’s 98-year history. Thoughts & prayers to the entire family.