Ronald L. Poast

BLACK EARTH - Ronald Leo Poast, born January 29, 1940, to Leo and Mary (LeVake) Poast, moved on to new horizons on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Born with the gift of creative hands and an inquisitive mind, he lived his life always building and searching for simpler solutions. He spent his early years attending rural schools and roaming the hills and valleys of Blue Mounds and Barneveld. He was given the responsibility of daily farm chores at an early age, which led to his strong work ethic.

Ron graduated from Arena High School in 1957 and started his career in cars in Madison garages working as a foreign car specialist. This led to building and restoring many of his own cars. His thoughts were “If I can’t afford to buy one, I’ll make one.” He obtained his private pilot’s license in 1966 and enjoyed many years flying. Annual Oshkosh EAA fly-ins led to building three of his own homebuilt airplanes. Motorcycles, ATVs, hunting, classic cars, and racing were all a part of his active life.

Growing up when music was popular at family gatherings, he learned to play guitar. That interest followed him through the years, and he learned to play many other string instruments. He was a founding member of the Southern Wisconsin Old-Time Fiddlers Association, entertaining for many years. He was also a member of many other local bands, featuring bluegrass, old-time, and country music. He hosted Ron’s Jam, a monthly old-time music gig in Black Earth for over 30 years. Ron’s interest turned to building the instruments he wanted, producing over 400 banjos for a banjo company before opening his own shop, PoastMark String Instruments - ‘Mark of Quality’ - where he continued to hand-craft his own instruments. In tune with his heritage, he specialized in the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle (google: Poast fiddle) working as a luthier over 50 years. He has well over 500 hand-built instruments all over the states and abroad.

As a member of the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America, he shared his talents by teaching fiddle construction at annual workshops. He also traveled with his wife to annual Syttende Mai and other Norwegian festivals to share knowledge of the Hardanger - how it is made and how it differs from a violin.

In 1992 he was nominated by then-Governor Tommy Thompson for the National Living Treasure of the United States Award, which is given to honor American craftsmanship. Also, that year, he was inducted into the Wisconsin State Strings Museum Hall of Fame as Master Luthier of the Year.

In 1998 Ron was a featured artist at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. and at the Wisconsin Folklife Festival in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2000 he was invited to display his fiddles as part of a cultural exchange in Chiba, Japan. In 2003 the Poast family, complete with children and grandchildren, traveled together to Washington, D.C. where Ron received the National Heritage Fellowship Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, presented for artistic excellence and authenticity. This is the highest honor given and is known as a life-time honor.

Ron also worked as a machinist for Plastic Ingenuity in Cross Plains for many years prior to retirement, sharing his knowledge and skill for keeping all equipment running smoothly.

At the center of Ron’s life was his family. Shortly after high school graduation, he met his future wife, Joyce Danz. They married in 1960 and celebrated 63+ years together, making their home in Black Earth. That union was enriched by the births of their five children, Brenda, Janeen, Bryan, Greg and Laurie, and later blessed with the arrivals of 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Ron is survived by his wife, Joyce; their children, Brenda (Rich) Carlson, Janeen (Tim) Duhr, and Bryan Poast, all of Black Earth, Greg (Holly) Poast of Sauk City, and Laurie Poast of Bergen, Norway. Grandchildren include Andrew (Kristin) Carlson, Ashley Carlson, Kasey (Austin) Conn, Karissa (Ozgur Calbay) Duhr, Zach Duhr, Logan, Ethan, and Marin Poast, and Leikny and Aurélie Poast. Great-grandchildren are Jack and Cora Carlson, Matthew, Hailey and Aubrey Conn, and Elroy Seffrood-Poast. He is also survived by his sister Avis Caputo, brother-in-law Leland Danz, one niece, and five nephews.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, a grandchild, Augustin Vivienne Poast, and a nephew, Stephen Caputo.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at VERMONT LUTHERAN CHURCH, 9886 Vermont Church Road, Black Earth. Visitation will be held Friday, May 10, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at GUNDERSON CAMACHO BLACK EARTH FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 1710 Center Street, Black Earth, and at the church one hour prior to the service. A luncheon for fellowship and to share memories of Ron will follow the service. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Black Earth.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com

Gunderson Camacho Black Earth

Funeral & Cremation Care

1710 Center St.

(608) 767-3684