Boys & Girls Club Blog

April 28, 2026

The Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh sends deepest condolences to the family of Ron Lampe, who passed away on April 14. 

Ron was more than a founder and Lifetime Board Member of the Club; he was a steadfast leader, a quiet force behind our success, and a lifelong champion for youth in our community. His legacy is woven into the very foundation of who we are today.

“Ron’s life’s work was never about recognition; it was about possibility,” said Tracy Ogden, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh. “Through his commitment, generations of children have found a place to belong, to grow, and to believe in their own futures.”

Ron’s journey with the Club began before our doors ever opened. An Oshkosh attorney who stepped forward as chair of the original steering committee, he helped turn an idea into reality, guiding efforts to demonstrate the need for a Boys & Girls Club in Oshkosh as early as 1968, rallying community support, forming a board of directors, securing a location, and raising the funds necessary to bring the Club to life. In 1970, that vision became a reality, and Ron continued to serve as the Club’s first Board President, setting the tone for decades of growth and impact.

From that moment forward, Ron’s commitment never wavered. For 55 years, he served on the Board of Directors, offering his time, expertise, and unwavering belief in the potential of every young person who walked through our doors. He served on the Board, finance, development, executive, Youth of the Year, and endowment committees. He secured many donors for the organization, helped raise funds for a new club building, served as legal counsel to the Board for several decades, and promoted our organization throughout the community. Ron also served for many years on Boys & Girls Clubs of Wisconsin Area Council, helping other clubs around the state get started, assisting with their boards’ development. 

In Oshkosh, his leadership and dedication helped guide our local Club through its most formative years and beyond, ensuring its strength and sustainability for generations to come. 

In 2025, Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh had grown to serve more than 2,000 kids in Oshkosh, Omro and Winneconne, delivering safe, supportive environments and offering an array of programs focused on academic success, healthy lifestyles, and character development. Club staff and volunteers provided tens of thousands of hours of engaging, high-impact experiences, from homework help and mentorship to enrichment activities and healthy meals.

In recognition of his extraordinary service over the decades, Ron was honored with an award for 55 years of board service and was inducted into the Wisconsin Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame in 2019.

“Without him, I don’t believe we would have a Club,” Club alumnus Tommy Sontag shared during the organization’s 50th Anniversary celebration in 2020. 

What set Ron apart was not just his longevity, but his presence. He showed up year after year, decade after decade, offering thoughtful guidance, steady leadership, and a deep sense of purpose. Behind the scenes, he was a constant, helping ensure that the Club remained a safe, welcoming, and opportunity-filled place for all youth.

In his own words, Ron once shared, “Other than matters of family, nothing in my life has been as rewarding as my volunteer service to the Club.” That sentiment speaks to the heart of who he was, a man devoted to his family, his community, and a mission that would outlive him.

Ron leaves behind a legacy not measured in years of service alone, but in the lives changed because he chose to act, to lead, and to care. His generosity, humility, and vision will be deeply missed, but his impact will continue to inspire us. 

“Ron’s legacy is not simply remembered; It is lived, every day, in the laughter, learning, and leadership unfolding within the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh,” Ogden said. 

Read Ron Lampe’s obituary here: https://www.gundersonfh.com/obituaries/Ronald-Linn-Lampe?obId=48197068

In honoring Ron’s life and legacy, his family invites those who wish to pay tribute to consider supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh in his memory: https://bgcosh.org/support/donate.