The Winona State University and Marshfield, Wisconsin communities are mourning the devastating loss of Ron Strege, the university’s Chief Student Affairs Officer and Director of the Warrior Success Center, whose sudden passing has left students, colleagues, and loved ones heartbroken.
A respected leader and mentor, Ron devoted his career to helping students thrive both academically and personally. With over 25 years of experience in student advocacy and higher education management, he was deeply admired for his empathy, integrity, and unwavering commitment to student success.
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“Ron’s passion for empowering students defined his life’s work,” one colleague shared. “He believed in every student’s potential and worked tirelessly to help them achieve it.”
As Director of the Warrior Success Center, Ron played a pivotal role in developing programs that promoted academic excellence, personal well-being, and career readiness. His leadership style — rooted in kindness, understanding, and accessibility — earned him the respect and admiration of everyone around him.
Students fondly recall his open-door policy and his ability to listen without judgment, offering advice and encouragement when it was needed most. “He always made you feel like you mattered,” said one former student. “Ron saw the best in people — even when they couldn’t see it in themselves.”
Before joining Winona State, Ron built a distinguished reputation across several institutions in higher education, recognized for his visionary leadership and innovative approaches to student affairs.
Born and raised in Marshfield, Wisconsin, Ron embodied the values of hard work, compassion, and community that shaped his professional and personal life. Friends describe him as a devoted husband, father, and friend who balanced his professional excellence with deep care for his loved ones.
While the cause of death has not been publicly released, the news of Ron’s passing has sent ripples of sorrow throughout the university community. Tributes have poured in from current and former students, faculty, and colleagues, many sharing stories of how Ron’s mentorship and kindness transformed their lives.
Winona State University announced plans to hold a campus gathering to celebrate Ron’s life and honor his extraordinary contributions to the institution.
“Ron’s legacy will live on through the countless lives he impacted,” the university said in a statement. “He was not only a leader — he was family.”