Ramona J. Valitchka

Our beloved mother Ramona J. Valitchka left this earth for the glory of heaven on January 19, 2026, at the age of 95. She was born on November 27, 1930, to Emil and Eleanor Krenz in the town of Hamburg, Wisconsin, and was the third of four children.

She spent an idyllic childhood growing up in the country and graduated from Athens High School in Hamburg. She later moved to Green Bay and was married to Virgil Valitchka. Together they owned and operated The Fern Room for over 20 years.

Ramona was a wonderful mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, cherished friend and gifted homemaker and cook. Ramona and Virgil made their home in Green Bay where they welcomed and raised four children. She found her calling in the joy of helping others, working as a staffing clerk for Bellin Hospital for many years until her retirement in 1995. She excelled and cherished this role, and she built many lifelong friendships through her work at Bellin.

Following her retirement, she continued to give generously of her time as a member of the St. Vincent Hospital Auxillary from 1996 until 2017, volunteering countless hours and continuing to enjoy all of the wonderful friendships she made in the close-knit hospital community. Bowling, too, was a special part of her life, and she and her wonderful group of lifelong friends bowled together for over four decades, and were proud to have attended 40 state championships together, always with lots of laughs along the way. Ramona was also an avid reader and the family historian, taking great care to document family milestones. She was most proud of her four children, Robert, Mary, Jane and Jim, and they shared a love for many things, especially travel. Together they enjoyed many trips around the world, from the Bahamas, France and Hong Kong to Thailand, Alaska and many visits to Phoenix and Florida to spend time with family. Summer trips to Door County were also very memorable. She was especially proud, too, of her wonderful grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who each brought her so much joy.

She is survived by her children, Robert Valitchka (Goy), Phuket, Thailand; Mary Carpenter (Dan Wachholz), Sobieski, WI; Jane Bell (Jeff), Ponte Vedra, FL; and Jim Valitchka (Nicole), Phoenix, AZ; grandsons Patric Hogan (Amber) Reno, NV; Eric Hogan (Rhea) Green Bay; granddaughter Caroline Bell, Ponte Vedra, FL; two great-granddaughters, Paytan Swiertz and Aubrey Hogan; many beloved nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil Valitchka; mother and father, Eleanor and Emil Krenz; mother-in-law and father in-law, Doris and Lawrence Valitchka; brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Dorothy Krenz; and two sisters and their spouses, Helen and Charles Kercher and Eunice and Dennis Juhlke. She was also preceded in death by her sisters-in-law and spouses; Anita and Art Thielke; Ione and Harold Levash; Betty and Orbie Bodart; and sister-in-law Mavis Valitchka.

We would like to extend heartfelt appreciation to the staff at Oak Park Place and Unity Hospice for the extraordinary care and compassion they gave Ramona.

Friends may call Saturday, March 14, at Ryan Funeral Home in De Pere, beginning at 9AM. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11AM.