Ronald Arthur Bero

Ronald Arthur Bero, 91, died peacefully on October 19, 2026, at his home in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, surrounded by his family.

Ron was born on January 23, 1935, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Arthur and Bernie Bero. As a boy, he worked beside his father in his cobbler shop, beginning a lifelong habit of making things, fixing things and finding something that needed doing. Basketball was another early love. He played at Green Bay East High School and later at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and long after his playing days were over he remained a devoted fan of college basketball, the Badgers above all. But his favorite athletes to watch were his children and grandchildren, and they gave him plenty of opportunity to do just that.

At the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he studied business, he spotted Mary Graham Forester in a sorority calendar and announced to his friends that he was going to marry that girl one day. He did. Their early years together took them to California, where Ron served in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant (junior grade). They later returned to Wisconsin, and he earned his MBA in Finance from Marquette University.

His 35-year banking career began in 1961 as a management trainee at First Wisconsin. By 1970, he was President of First Wisconsin National Bank of Brookfield. He went on to oversee banks across Wisconsin, Illinois and Arizona, rising to Senior Executive Vice President of Firstar Corporation and later Chairman and CEO of Firstar Bank Madison. He retired in 1996. Along the way, he served as President of the Wisconsin Bankers Association and on the Advisory Board of the Wisconsin School of Business at UW–Madison.

Ron and Mary raised five children in Wauwatosa and Elm Grove, in a house full of activity, hunting dogs and projects in various stages of completion. On weekends, if he wasn’t on the tennis court or in a duck blind, he could usually be found on a ladder or in his workshop.

There, working with his hands became something of a second vocation. He built fine period furniture, bringing patience and an exacting eye to every detail. A later move to Oconomowoc meant a larger workshop where each November a “Santa’s Workshop” sign went up, the doors closed to visitors, and work on his children’s gifts began. Those pieces stand in their homes today, each one holding hours of his time and care.

The same man who could spend weeks perfecting a highboy was just as happy in a crowded room, especially if he was holding court. He had a big personality, plenty of confidence and an opinion on most things, which he shared freely. An occasional gruffness earned him the affectionate nickname “the Growler” among a few who knew him well, but it never hid how big-hearted, loyal and generous he was. At home or out to dinner, a glass of Chardonnay in hand, he loved the company as much as the meal. He always had another story, or a familiar one that lost nothing in the retelling.

Between Wisconsin and Florida, he kept his days full, whether on the golf course or on the water. For a time, he captained his own boats, a position that suited him well. Annual fishing trips to Lake Athabasca in Canada became a cherished tradition spanning decades. There and in the Florida Everglades, some of his best days were spent fishing with longtime friends and three generations of family.

His Christian faith guided his life. He was an active member of Elmbrook Church, and his family foundation supported many Christian organizations, work that will continue in his name.

Ron is survived by Mary, his wife of 67 years, and their five children: Ronald (Kathy) Bero Jr., Richard (Jane) Bero, Michael (Sarah) Bero, Amy (Zach) Stigler and Suzannah (Matthew) Bong. He was a beloved grandfather to 16 grandchildren, including the late Forester Stigler, and great-grandfather to four great-granddaughters. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Bernie Bero, and his sister, Doris (Bero) Davis.

He lives on in the people he loved, the things he made and the stories his family will continue to tell. The world is a little quieter without him.

A celebration of Ron’s life will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at the Oconomowoc Lake Club. Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m., followed by a service at 11:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Milwaukee Rescue Mission (https://milmission.org/ways-to-give/) or Elmbrook Church (https://www.elmbrook.org/ways-to-give).