Ron Weyers (right) with Andrzej Zawiesk learning more about the need for scholarships in Nidzica, Poland.
“Ron was a master of managing by walking around. He would frequently kick off his shoes somewhere during the day and have to backtrack to find them at the end of the day. He wanted input from everybody on how they could "do better" and always made sure to celebrate success. He listened. He cared about people and their lives.”
For those of you who knew Ron Weyers, you knew his unique thoughtfulness. For those of you who didn’t have a chance to know Ron, we’d like to introduce you to him.
Sadly, the quote above is from his obituary. But as I read it, I had to smile. I could envision Ron kicking off his shoes, getting comfortable and making those around him feel comfortable by doing so. He had a gift for that.
Ron’s schooling started in a one-room schoolhouse and continued in the Army. He started and ran several successful companies, all embodying a family atmosphere. In the meantime, he and Colleen raised a beautiful family of their own.
Ron and Colleen Weyers (right) with Mrs. Betty Bradley (left) and the first John Bradley Scholarship of Honor recipient, Luke Justman in May 2007.
Ron and his family have been one of our biggest contributors and one of our biggest encouragers of Brian’s Foundation. The Weyers Family Foundation was one of our first sponsors for our scholarships in Poland. They sponsored the John Bradley Scholarship of Honor at Appleton West High School. They were a large contributor to the Ken Kubsch Scholarship and continue to provide an annual donation to our Scholarship of Honor program to cover the expenses of the scholarship medal so that 100% of the scholarship funds could continue to go directly to the recipients (this was Ron’s idea and he approached us).
Ron and his wife, Colleen, received the Brian LaViolette Spirit Award in 2015 for all their support to Brian’s Foundation and all they have done for the community. If we listed everything, it would be a very long list.
Renee LaViolette, Ron and Colleen Weyers, Doug and Kim LaViolette during the 2015 Brian LaViolette Spirit Award luncheon.
We have no doubt that Ron has touched the lives of tens of thousands of people throughout the years--through his companies, his support to organizations and universities, their Brown County Library branch, and those he met along the way. We always told him we couldn’t thank him enough for all his belief and support in Brian’s Foundation. We still can’t, but we will say it once again, “Thank you for everything, Ron.”
The next time I have to backtrack for my shoes, I will think of Ron Weyers.
