Ronald “Coach Ron” Klestinski, age 84, of Manitowoc, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at Froedtert Holy Family Memorial Medical Center in Manitowoc.
Born to life, Ronald Anthony Klestinski, on August 18, 1938, in Stevens Point, WI. Son of the late Eleanore (Olbrantz) and Anton Klestinski. Born to eternal life at 84 on March 1st, 2023, in Manitowoc, WI. On June 9, 1962, he married the love of his life, the former Darlene Kulick. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past June.
Ron graduated from P.J. Jacobs High School in Stevens Point in 1957. He took pride in the fact that he had perfect attendance for four years. His senior year he served as Student Council President and Vice-President of his class. He participated in Football, Basketball and Baseball. He received the Col. Hirzy Student Athlete Award as a senior. He was the captain of the 1956 Valley Conference Football Championship Team and was selected 1st Team All Valley Conference on Offense and Defense.
Ron received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education From the UW-Stevens Point in 1961. He received his Master of Science Degree from St. Mary University, Winona, MN in 1968. At UWSP, Ron lettered in Football for four years and Track his senior year. He was the Co-Captain of the 1960 Pointer football team. Ron received the Senior Athlete Award in 1961 and also the Goodrich Student Athlete Award.
Ron began his teaching career at Wisconsin Dells High School from 1961-63. He taught Biology and assisted coaching Football. In 1963, Ron began teaching with the Christian Brothers at Stevens Point Pacelli High School where he taught Biology and assisted in both Football and Basketball coaching. He accepted a teaching position at Roncalli High School in 1966. He was a Biology Instructor and Head Football Coach. Over the years, he was also Head Track Coach as well as staffing Assistant Basketball and Track Coaching positions.
At Roncalli, Ron worked with Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity and the Christian Brothers. The Christian Brothers honored him in 1981 with the Letters of Benefaction Award. In 1997, he was presented with the Distinguished LaSallian Educator Award. In 2000, Ron was presented with the highest honor given to a lay colleague of the Christian Brothers, conferred from the International Office in Rome, the Letters of Affiliation. Ron was a Lay Colleague Representative to the Christian Brothers Chapter in 1994. In 2009, Roncalli presented Ron with the Distinguished Educator Award.
Ron was named the first Dean of Students at Roncalli in 1978 and held that position until his retirement in 2000. While in that position, he was appointed a member of many State and National Advisory Committees. Locally, he was a member of the first Manitowoc County Asset Building Team, working with students to make Manitowoc County a better place.
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