Bramlage Family

Ron and Becky Bramlage, along with their four children were killed in a plane crash on Thursday, June 7th in Polk Co. FL, while returning home from a family vacation. Each of them was very involved in Junction City, and they were avid KSU supporters. They were faithful members of the St. Xavier Parish.

Education was important to the family as evidenced by their many school activities, and the academic accomplishments of the children. They were individually, and corporately able to light up a room with their smiles. They radiated happiness and had busy, fulfilling lives. They were loving and generous. Although they had a public presence, they were private people. Family defined them.

The cremated remains will lie in repose after 3:00 P.M. on Sunday, June 17th at St. Xavier Catholic Church 218 N. Washington Street, followed by a public prayer vigil service at 7:00 P.M. A Funeral Mass will be Monday, June 18th at 10:00 A.M. at Junction City Middle School, 700 Wildcat Lane. Both services will be conducted by Fr. Al Brungart.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Xavier's Catholic Church, Geary Community Schools Foundation and The Junction City Opera House, Inc.

Ron Bramlage, 45, of Junction City, KS, was born March 17, 1967 in Manhattan, KS, the son of Bob and Patti (Waters) Bramlage. As a member of St. Xavier's Ron served on the Parish Council, and as an usher. A graduate of Junction City High School, and Kansas State University, he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.

Ron married Becky Johnston on September 19, 1992 in Kansas City, MO. To this union were born four children, Brandon, Boston, Beau, and Roxanne. He devoted much time to his family and his community as a volunteer coach for the Wrecking Crew, the kids wrestling program. He served as a mentor for the JCHS program and sponsored kids to camps, took them to tournaments, and often had them over to the Wrestling Room at the Bramlage home. He provided them a well-equipped off-campus wrestling room above the Goodwill Building.

Professionally, Ron was a Commercial Real Estate Broker and Developer and was the Owner/Operator of Roadside Ventures LLC, an Outdoor Advertising Company. From 2006-2010 he served on the Armed Forces Bank Board of Directors, Bank Audit Committee and the Bank Compliance Committee. From 1990-2006 Ron served on the Fort Riley National Bank Board, Loan Committee, and was the Bank CEO from 2004-2006. From 1999-2006, he was the Owner/Operator of Neoteric Ventures, a Hotel Development Company. His memberships included The Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Old Trooper Regiment, Kansas State University Foundation Board of Directors, and Kansas State University Mike Ahearn Scholarship Board of Directors.

The whole family liked to visit Grandmother Waters' farm and to fish. Ron was a great friend, a good listener, and a keen observer of people.

He was joined in death with his wife and four children, and was preceded in death by his grandparents Fred and Dorothy Bramlage and his uncle, Paul Bramlage. Survivors include his father Bob Bramlage; his mother Patti Wertzberger and his step-father, Bud Wheeler; his brother Damien Bramlage and his children Max and Ben; his maternal grandmother, Virginia Waters; his aunt Dorothy Willcoxon and her husband Robert; his cousins Chase and Drew Bramlage, Philip Willcoxon and his wife Leah and their children Lexi and Sam; Deborah Ricard and her husband Fernand and their children Sophia, Gus and Andy; Mark Willcoxon; Sara Tate and her husband Jeff and their children Lauren, Carson and Alena; his step-brother Karl Wertzberger and his wife Jeni and their children Teggan and John; his step-sister Kirsten Krug and her husband Robin and their daughters Ainsley and Payton.

Becky Bramlage, 43, of Junction City was born August 8, 1968 in Kansas City, MO, the daughter of Gary and Helen (Gordon) Johnston. A member of St. Xavier's, she was on the Altar Society and was a CCD teacher. She was a graduate of Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in 1986, and Kansas State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts (1992) in Business. She was a member of Chi Omega.

She married Ron Bramlage at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Kansas City, MO on September 19, 1992. She was an exemplary mother to Brandon, Boston, Beau, and Roxanne.

She helped Ron with his businesses and taught classes at the KSU School of Business, but her top priorities were being a wife and mother. She made countless contributions to the community. She was currently serving as President of the USD 475 Board of Education. Becky was a site council member at JCMS and JCHS, and a Lincoln PTO Member. She was a Board Member/Secretary for the Geary Community Schools Foundation and the Lady Troopers Organization. She was a member of Chapter AR of the PEO sisterhood where she had served as Chaplain.

She was a great cook and baker, and loved to share with friends and neighbors. Her volunteerism centered on her children and included kids wrestling, hosting end of the year parties for each of the kid's classrooms at Lincoln, baking cookies for their sports teams, and enjoying time with them walking, running, boating, tubing and skiing at the lake, taking bicycle rides, and snow skiing. She was patient, kind, and calm.

She was joined in death with her husband and four children, and was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Bruce Johnston, and maternal grandfather, Merrill Kern Gordon. Survivors include her father and mother, Gary and Helen Johnston; her brother, Cory Lockwood Johnston, his wife, Veronica, and their daughters, Jordan, Sophia and Emory; maternal grandmother, Bette Gordon and paternal grandmother, Wilma Johnston; her uncle and aunt Merrill Gordon and wife Tracey; aunt Suzanne Lecht; Aunt Barbara Gordon and Sam King; aunt and uncle Sandra and Jeff Ward; aunt and uncle Nancy and Jack Zimmerman; cousins, Sherry Jurad, Todd Creel, Greg Zimmerman, Chris Zimmerman, Jeff Zimmerman, Casey Zimmerman, Amy Michael, Chad Gordon and Heather Gordon.