Ronald Charles "Ron" Merical

Ronald (Ron) Charles Merical, 84, formerly of Minburn and Waukee, Iowa, passed away on January 24, 2026, with his family by his side, at Homestead Acres, in Guthrie Center, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 4-7pm, Thursday, January 29, 2026 at Iles Brandt Chapel, Dallas Center, Iowa. A committal service with military honors will be held at 2pm, Friday, January 30, 2026 at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, located near Van Meter, Iowa. A Celebration of Life will begin at 4pm, Friday at Mudder's in Minburn.

Born in 1941 in Waukee, Iowa, Ron graduated from Waukee High School in 1959. After graduation, Ron enlisted in the United States Army where he served during the Korean War. When he returned home, he went on to work at Hy-Line International, followed by 21 years at Firestone Tire until he became the owner of Mudder's Bar in Minburn for the next 29 years.

Ron loved playing cribbage and cheering on the Nebraska Cornhuskers during football season, and the St. Louis Cardinals during the major league baseball season. Another one of Ron's favorite pastimes was watching his grandchildren participate in their respective sports.

Ron was a very generous man who made friends wherever he went. Whether it was his children or grandchildren that were with him somewhere as they were growing up, it was almost impossible not to get stopped by someone he knew. In his later years when asked if he wanted anything, he would sometimes reply "Just a kind word and a smile."

Ron is survived by his sister, Deanna Merical; daughter, Lori (Dave) Hartman; son, Todd (Wendy) Merical; grandchildren, Tyler Merical, Kylie Merical, Nicole Merical, Brooke Hartman and Sydney Hartman; great grandchildren, Kaedon and Briella, along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Velma; and his siblings, Dorothy (Chuck) Walston, Robert (Dorothy) Merical, and Darlene (Don) Sheehy.

Memorial gifts may be made to the American Legion Osborne Post 99 of Minburn, Iowa.

Online condolences are welcome at www.IlesCares.com.

Arrangements by Iles Brandt Chapel.