Roland "Ron" Goldsberry

Roland “Ron” Goldsberry peacefully slipped away from our hands on Sunday, December 23, 2018 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. Ron was born to Wayne M. and Mary Ardis Goldsberry on January 10, 1947 while living on the eastside of Des Moines. He was the 3rd of 6 children born to the couple. Ron was saved by the Lord in 1973 and baptized at the Evangelical Covenant Church in September 1976.

Ron and Lana Monthei dated for 3 years before being united in marriage on June 18, 1977. To this union two sons and a daughter were born. The family lived 6 years in Altoona before moving to their Runnells country home for 35 years. Ron and Lana watched their marriage bloom and family grow for 41 ½ years.

Ron’s early years were full of rented farms and moving every 2 or 3 years until they settled at the Runnells family farm in 1962. He attended several country schools, Runnells High school and graduated from Southeast Polk High School in 1966.

Ron worked in Altoona at Artistic Manufacturing before being drafted into the U.S. Army in August of 1966, and sent to Vietnam for 1967-1968. He was in Charlie Company and was in the Heavy Artillery Division serving as a tank driver/operator. Artistic manufacturing welcomed him back from 1968-1976. In 1976, Ron went to work for Polk County, where he was a heavy equipment operator in the Secondary Roads Division, until his retirement in June 2012. Following his retirement, he worked an additional 2 years for Robinson Family Farms doing seasonal farm work.

Ron was devoted to his family and loved helping on the farm. He enjoyed anything that had to do with tractors (especially the orange ones), mushroom hunting, skipping rocks, and helping others with whatever they needed.

Ron is survived by his wife, Lana; son, Jason (Sara) of Pleasant Hill; grandchildren, Ava, Alayna, and Andrew; son, Kevin (Mindy) of Altoona; daughter, Megan (Nate Dick) of Des Moines; grandchildren, Kolten and Trenton; siblings, Rick, Julie, and Mary, and many relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and twin siblings, Wayne and Duane.

A visitation will be held Sunday, December 30, 2018 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, a memorial service will be held directly following the visitation at 3:00 PM, at Hamilton’s Altoona Funeral Home. Memorial contributions can be made to family in loving memory of Ron.

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