MANISTIQUE - Ronald R. Rubick, 67, of 375N Sunset Beach Road, Manistique, died Jan. 12, 2009, at Froedtert Memorial Hospital in Milwaukee, Wis.
He was born Nov. 11, 1941, in Manistique, the son of Sylvester and Florence (Williams) Rubick. He was a graduate of St. Francis de Sales School and was a graduate of Manistique High School with the Class of 1960. While in high school, Ron excelled in all athletics, especially football, using his talent as a running back to lead the Manistique High School Football teams of 1958 and 1959 to become the Great Lakes Conference Champions. Known as "The Manistique Missile," Ron set numerous Upper Peninsula high school records and was voted to the All-Star Senior Team, the All-U.P. Team, was named U.P. Back of the Year, was named to the All-State Football Dream Team and also the National High School All-American Team. His football jersey No. 33 was permanently retired in 1960 and hangs in the main corridor of the Manistique High School.
A humble man, he has always credited the guidance of his coaches and the other team member's talents for his success.
Ron received offers from many major universities, but accepted a scholarship and football running back position at Michigan State University. There, in his junior year, he set a single-game rushing position that stood for many years.
On Aug. 22, 1964, he married the former Jo-Nell M. Davis at St. Francis de Sales Church in Manistique.
In 1965, Ron accepted a teaching and coaching position with the St. Ignace School System and in 1967 accepted a position with the Manistique area schools.
Because of millage problems in the Manistique district, he moved to Manitowoc, Wis., the same year and accepted a position as health and physical education teacher.
In 1968 he became the head coach of the Manitowoc High School varsity football team and held that position until his retirement. He also was the high school assistant wrestling coach for 19 years. He loved coaching and all of the teams he worked with.
While coaching football in Manitowoc, his team made the playoffs 10 times and won three consecutive state championships. During the years 1983-1987, his teams recorded 48 straight wins. Ron was selected as associated press Coach of the Year in 1985 and in 1986, was the Wisconsin Football Association Coach of the Year in 1986, and in 1978 was selected to the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame and in 1986, the Lakeshore Sports Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999.
Upon his retirement and moving back to Manistique, Ron became involved in the Manistique area athletic programs as a volunteer.
He enjoyed kayaking, biking, campfires and being with friends and family. His motto was, "Always be fair do the best you can and leave it at that."
He was a member of St. Francis de Sales Church of Manistique, and the Wisconsin and Michigan Coaches Association. He was a former member of the Manitowoc Optimists Club and the Manitowoc Tennis Club.
He is survived by his wife, Jo-Nell Rubick of Manistique; son, B.J. Rubick of Manistique; daughter, Becky (Bill) Frasch of Milwaukee, Wis.; his grandchildren, Jacob and Julia Frasch of Milwaukee; and his brother, Sylvester (Joan) Rubick, Jr. of Manistique.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, George J. Rubick.