Ronald Edwin Plath

Ronald Edwin Plath, 91, of Mosinee, WI, Passed Away peacefully on Sat, May 2, 2026, at Aspirus Hospice-Wausau, WI.

Born on June 13, 1934, in Austin, Mn to the late Bernard and Helen (Smith) Plath. Ron was raised in Austin, MN and excelled in all levels of baseball as a pitcher. He earned a full athletic scholarship after high school to the University of Oklahoma (OU) where he graduated with a business degree. He was then drafted by the Chicago White Sox organization and pitched in the minor league. He joined the Army reserve right out of college and was honorably discharged in March 1963 at the rank of E-5. He faced a hard choice to make of either chasing his baseball dream to play in the majors or accept a sales position with Hormel Foods in Austin, MN. He accepted the sales position in the Meat Products group and was transferred to the Los Angeles, CA territory. While in CA, his brother-In-Law (Earl Hallum), introduced him to Nancy Anthony, the daughter of Earl's friend and fellow pilot in the United States Air Force (Jim Anthony). Ron and Nancy married in Torrence, CA on March 24, 1962, Nancy survives. They had a son born on May 1964 in Redondo Beach, CA.

Ron was promoted and relocated to Phoenix, AZ where he became the District Manager for the SW territory. Ron and Nancy had a daughter that was born in Scottsdale, AZ in 1968. Several years later, He was then promoted to a larger volume territory as a District Manager in Seattle, WA Supervising sales/marketing in the Northwest territory. After two plus years he was moved-up to lead the no. 1 volume Territory (CA) as a Senior District Manager, based in Los Angeles, CA. He moved the family to Tustin, CA in Orange CO where they lived for almost 9 years. In 1981, the next promotion for Ron was to become President of Vista International Packaging, a Subsidiary of Hormel Foods, in Kenosha, WI. In 1987, Ron got to go home so to speak as he was promoted to Vice President /Managing Director of International Food Sales out of the Hormel Corporate Headquarters in his hometown of Austin, MN. A year later he was named as President of Hormel Foods International Corporation and as Vice President on the Board of Directors. Ron had an outstanding 35-year career with Hormel Foods and retired in Dec. 1996. After retirement in Austin, MN, he started and ran Plath Enterprises-an international business consulting firm. In his spare time, he was on the MN/WI Mepps and Mister Twister Pro-Staff Fishing team where he worked at the consumer sportfishing shows and dealer buying shows, as well as managing the manufacturing booths/displays at events in MN, IA, MT, and NE for almost 10 years.

Ron was later inducted into the Hormel Spam Museum in Austin, MN as he represented Hormel Foods as part of the first US Business delegation to open investments/trade, and commerce of US companies/products while traveling to China, North Vietnam, and the USSR in the early 90's. He also was in charge of establishing Hormel operations/sales in Mexico in 1993.

Ron and Nancy moved from Austin, MN to Knowlton, WI after buying 6 acres of land and building their dream home on the shores of Lake Dubay-to be closer to their adult children and 3 grandkids.

Grandpa Ron enjoyed attending every football, basketball, baseball, and softball games his grandkids participated in while they grew-up in Mosinee. He was an Assistant coach for Mosinee youth, senior, and traveling baseball, Youth Tackle Football, and an Assistant to the Mosinee Youth Football Board of Directors. Ron got great joy out of the many friends he made in Knowlton and Mosinee, especially the Boys at the unofficial breakfast club that he attended every morning at Gorski's Restaurant or Mosinee Cafe. He will be greatly missed by the crew. Ron also enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing with his son, boating on Lake DuBay, landscaping, and going to estate sales with his wife Nancy.

Ron is survived by his older sister Audrey (Plath) Halum (Austin, MN), Younger brothers Rich Plath, and sister-in -law Rebecka (Aurora, CO), Roger Plath and sister-in-law Nancy (Mendota Heights, MN). Children Todd Plath (Mosinee, WI), Stacy (Plath) Pierce and son-in -law Russ Pierce (Hortonville, WI), three adult grandchildren, and 5 Great grandkids, and many nieces and nephews, their children, relatives, and friends. Ron was proceeded in death by his parents, Brother-in-law (Earl), and Nephew (Jamie), and many dear friends and business colleagues.

We take great comfort in knowing that Ron had a full life and accomplished everything he wanted in his 91 years on earth. 64 happy years married to the Love of his life, Nancy. He was a born leader, motivator, and a cracker jack SPAM/Hot Dog salesman during his life and career at Hormel Foods. You could describe Ron as a person that could strike up a conversation with anyone and as the saying goes-sell ice cubes to Eskimo's. He will be truly missed by his family and friends.

Per Ron’s wishes, no formal funeral services will be held at this time. Beste Funeral Home, Mosinee, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.bestefh.com.