Ronald J. “Wimp” Nettell, 75, of 316 Pine Street, Marquette, passed away Tuesday, April 12, 2005, as the result of an automobile accident in Republic Township.

Ron was born March 3, 1930 in South Range, a son of Richard and Tyme (Piippo) Nettell.  Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Houghton where Ron was raised and graduated from the Houghton High School in 1948.  Ron was a multi-sport athlete at Houghton High, participating in football, hockey, and track.  Ron held the All-UP pole vault record for seven years, and the regional 100-yard dash record for 25 years.  His coach at Houghton High, Peter Bugni, referred to Ron, at his retirement, as the greatest all- around natural athlete that he had ever coached in his 40 years at Houghton High.  Ron attended Michigan Technological University, playing both hockey and football.  As a freshman on the 1948 undefeated MTU football team, Ron set a rushing record of 10.7 yards per carry; the record still stands.  Ron accumulated 26 points in 41 games played with the MTU hockey team.  Later, Ron enrolled at Ferris State University where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and then went on to Central Michigan University where he received Masters Degrees in Business and Teaching.  In 1960, Ron established a Certified Public Accounting firm in Mount Pleasant.  In 1966, Ron returned to Marquette where he was employed at Northern Michigan University as internal auditor.  In recent years, Ron was a self-employed CPA.  In his leisure, Ron was an avid golfer, winning the Mount Pleasant Country Club Championship in 1965.  He was also a former member of the Marquette Golf and Country Club.

Survivors include three daughters, Dorothy Kitzinger of Green Bay, WI, Jean (Terry) Rohr of Tawas City, and Debbie Nettell at Tendercare Health Center in Munising; two sons, Frank (Karen) Nettell of Marquette and Tom (Jennifer) Nettell of Iron Mountain.  There are also nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all of whom Ron loved very much and took great joy in their activities.  Ron always commented that if he knew his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were going to be so wonderful, he would have had them first.  His grandchildren include, Nicole, Brady, Dan, Doug, and Mark Nettell, Andy Rohr, Jennifer Nuthals, Lori and Joe Nichols; great-grandchildren, Natasha, Josh, and Abigail; two sisters, Ethel (Melby) Flygare of Trenary and Gloria (John) LaBonte of Marquette; a brother, Richard Nettell of Sault Ste Marie; and several nieces and nephews.  Ron was preceded in death by his parents.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Fassbender Funeral Home on Friday, April 15, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm for a time of sharing memories of Ron.  A graveside memorial service will be held at the family plot in Forest Hill Cemetery, Houghton, for family and friends, at a later date to be announced.