Ronald Theodore Biver

Ronald Theodore Biver, 80, passed away on June 7, 2022, at Agrace Hospice in Madison, Wisconsin. He had previously been a resident at The Bay at Belmont Health & Rehabilitation Center, also in Madison, WI, since December 2021. Prior to that he lived in Viroqua, WI, and the surrounding areas since 2010.

Ron was born April 24, 1942, to Roger and Irene Biver (nee Lesniak) in Chicago, Illinois. They lived in the Norwood Park neighborhood, where he attended Saint Thecla Catholic School and Taft High School. He played the soprano bugle as a member of the Norwood Park Imperials Drum and Bugle Corps and was known for his impressive solos. It was there where he met his first love, Patricia Joyce McLaughlin, who was a drum majorette.

Ron and Pat married in 1963 and bought a home in Arlington Heights, IL. They had two children, Ronald Roger Biver in 1964 and Penelope (Penny) Catherine Biver in 1966. They divorced in 1972, and Ron moved to Oak Park, IL. He met Katherine Ann Neidert while attending Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Church, where he was a member from the mid-1970s to mid-1980s. The two married in 1976, had one child, Crystal Amber Biver, in 1980, and divorced in 1985.

Ron left high school to attend cosmetology school following several of his family members into hairdressing as an occupation. He and his older brother, Roger Biver, opened their own salon, Styles International in Glencoe, IL. Despite developing a devoted clientele over many years, Ron grew tired of hairdressing and decided in the mid-1980s to try his hand at other careers, including carpentry, real estate, and finally, commercial printing. Ron fell in love with the Driftless Area of Western Wisconsin after discovering it in the late 1970s and purchased a small plot of land in Ferryville with second wife, Kathy. So it’s no surprise that he moved to the area after the two divorced. Kathy and his daughter, Amber, also moved to the area shortly after. Ron returned to Chicago to care for his elderly mother in the late 1990s, but after she passed in 2010, he moved back to Wisconsin to be closer to youngest daughter, Amber, and later his grandchildren, Olivia and Trey. Ron had a deep love of nature and the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, camping, and hunting. He was very creative and enjoyed hobbies such as woodworking, photography, and the theatre. He started a community theatre troupe, Unity Players, at Unity Temple in Oak Park, producing and starring in plays such as Cyrano de Bergerac, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and Crawling Arnold. He also enjoyed sports, playing in a 16-inch softball league in Oak Park for several years and reveling in the family horseshoe tournaments. He was a lifelong fan of the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs.

He is survived by his son, Ron Biver Jr.; his daughters, Penelope Biver and Amber Biver; grandson, Trey Turben; granddaughter, Olivia Turben; brothers, Roger (Anita) Biver and Richard (Brigette) Biver; sisters, Jerrie Squire (Jack) Will and Kathy (Jim) Shrader; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roger and Irene Biver; and his uncle Frank and aunt Lou Martin.

A memorial celebration of Ron’s life will be held at a later time.