Ron Ginkens

Services for Ron Ginkens, 78, of rural Chariton, will be held on Monday, November 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Melcher-Dallas. A luncheon will be held immediately following the service. Burial will be held at Keota Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 16, 2025, from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Lucas County Fair Association.
Ron was born March 9,1947, at the Washington County Hospital. He was the son of Willard H. and Ruth A. (Morden) Ginkens. Since Willard was a share cropper, they moved around a lot when Ron was young. Willard was burned in a combine fire and the family moved into the town of Keota, as Willard no longer continued to farm. When moving to town Ron became the orneriest kid on the block. Ron kept busy mowing yards, sometimes riding his bike seven miles or more to mow a yard. At the age of ten, Ron became very involved in 4H. He won many ribbons and was Grand Champion with his dairy cows at the Keokuk County Fair at What Cheer, Iowa. He also won Dairy Showmanship.
At junior high age, he became involved in football and continued to play through high school. He was honored by being selected as all conference guard his junior and senior years.
After graduating high school in 1965, he attended Ellsworth Junior College in Iowa Falls, where he studied business education. After three semesters he became extremely smart and dropped out of college. From there he went to work in construction in Eagle Grove, shortly thereafter he was drafted.
He moved back to Keota and learned to be a plumber with his brother, Jim. He also started working for farmers.
In 1972, he met the only lady he ever loved at the Keota laundromat. In June of 1973 they were married. In 1974, they purchased a farm in the Chariton area, where they still reside.
As time went by, they started a family. As the children got older, they became interested in 4H. Ron and Jamie were great supporters.
Ron went to work for Walnut Grove Feeds, where he became a successful salesman. After Walnut Grove he became a Hy-Vee driver until his retirement. Within that time frame illnesses started plaguing Ron. But Ron being a tough SOB, he defied the doctors and continued on with life, but at a much slower pace.
A few stories that he would like to share starts with this one: On the 1st day of school at the bus stop. Ron thought he would get the kids all fired up about starting school. He took several roman candles to the front and proceeded to shoot the roman candles at the kids. He thought they were overjoyed with all the arm waving. He was to learn later the telephone repair guy was in the ditch next to the kids working on the phone box.
Ron likes to tell the story of him and Jamie breaking a colt to go into the dark barn. The plan was for Ron to get the colt close and head into the doorway. When the colt headed the right way toward the doorway Jamie was to shoot the colt in the ass. Ron got the colt to the doorway, and it wouldn't move, Jamie aimed, shot and hit Ron in the ear with the bb. Ron, being inquisitive like he is, questioned the situation, asking Jamie why she shot him. The reply was a simple " You told me to shoot the Horse's ass."
I would like to end with these 2 bits: No matter how bad it gets-- Always remember to smile. Right Charlee? And If I have insulted you in the course of my lifetime-I hope you have learned something from it.
He is preceded by his parents, Willard and Ruth, brother, James Ginkens and sister, Marylin Ginkens Byerly.
Ron is survived by his wife Jamie, children: Genni (Jim) Heffron, Aaron (Cali Jermier) Ginkens, and Ryann Ginkens; grandchildren: Tierney (Jordan Angle) Angle, Charlee (Max Johnson) Johnson, Ciara Heffron, Bryce, Ellie (Cole Bowden), and Macey Jermier; nephew and nieces: Dennis Ginkens, Suzie Jamieson, Denise Peiffer, Joleen Peiffer, Vickie Williams, Debbie Woodall, Kim Lunsford, and Shelly Robinson; and many other friends and extended relatives.