Ron Morales

April 19, 1948---December 13, 2002

It is with great regret that I inform you of the loss of one of our Great Locomotive engineers at Portage, Ronald Morales .

Ron passed away unexpectedly at Chicago on his layover Friday December 13, 2002. Ron was a very well respected Locomotive engineer and worked with the Milwaukee Road, Soo Line and Canadian Pacific Railway for 36 years. He was active in the Portage Safety and Health Committee for 10 years.

Ron was the local Chairman for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Division 66. He will be missed by all his fellow workers and friends. He was 54 years old and was born on April 19, 1948.

He was a member of North American Prototype Modelers, a Santa Fe fan as I was told. When he would see me railfanning he would always put on show sort of a show for me and anyone else waiting for trains, whether it was hanging out the window waving, flashing the headlights on and off, or playing some tune with the air horns.

I last saw Ron at Trainfest with the Madison O scale club's layout he was running his UP challenger, where he had another engineer with him who worked for Amtrak on the Southwest Chief. It is sad to think he that he is gone and we won't see him hanging out the window of an engine waving for the camera.

Information submitted

Photos courtesy of Michael Miller

Ron with a student engineer, July 2002

Fri., Dec. 13, 2002 age 54 years. Beloved lifelong friend and husband of Linda (nee Burton). Loving father of the late Daniel, Anthony (Carrie) and Melissa. Dear son of Manuel and Toni (nee Haro). Dear brother of Mark (Geri), Michael, Geary, Robert (Anna), Debra (Rudy Ruiz), Bobbi Lynne (Victor Elizondo) and the late Daniel Morales. Special brother-in-law of Warren (Arlene) Burton, Annette Marcum and Diane Morales. Further survived by uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, other family and friends. Visitation at the Funeral Home (TODAY) WED., 4-8 PM. Prayer Service at 630 PM. Funeral THURS., 1015 AM from the Funeral Home to OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH (613 S. 4th St.) for Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM. Entombment St. Adalbert Cemetery. Ron was a graduate of Boys Tech in 1966 and 1964 city wrestling champion; the beginning of a wrestling dynasty. Ron was also a 36 year employee of the Canadian-Pacific Railroad, an avid Bass Fisherman, a member of the Model Railroad Club and President of Local No.66, B.L.E.

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To my friend of 31 years Ron Morales, an engineer with 36 years of service with the Milw/SOO/CP who passed away last Friday

"I thought you were nuts Ron at the club when you said you could build a depot out of LEGO blocks. I guess you proved me wrong. I hope you're up there running one of God's trains with Jesus as your fireman. Blow your whistle when its my turn Ron so I can find you. I miss you my friend!"

Mike Sosalla

Photo by Mike Sosalla

Pictures below by Michael Miller

Andy, Thanks for publishing the tributes to Ron. He was a great guy. Though we didn't know each other well, he was always outgoing and inclusive when I'd see him. He seemed to enjoy sharing fun with people. Dick

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