Ronald L. Harsh, Sr.

Ronald Lee Harsh, Sr., was born February 1, 1943 in Des Moines, Iowa the son of Fred Earnest Harsh and Norma Lucille (Hensyel) Harsh. Fred was a veteran of World War II. Ron was the only son born between one older sister and one younger sister. He grew up living on the south side during the time in which it was known as Fort Des Moines with his parents. Ron attended the elementary schools of Maple Grove and Fort Des Moines, before attending Lincoln High School in seventh grade as part of the last of the midterm graduating classes in January 1961 at the age of 17.
Shortly after graduating from Lincoln High School in January of 1961, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps Reserve the day after turning eighteen on February 2, 1961. Ron was a Veteran of the Vietnam Era. He faithfully served on active duty in the US Marine Corps from 1961-1965 where he obtained the rank of Corporal E-4. He was honorably discharged from the Inactive Marine Corps Reserve on February 2, 1967.
As a young child growing up in Des Moines, Ron attended the old First Church of the Open Bible which was located at 19th and Crocker when Frank W. Smith was Pastor. In 1967, a new church was built and located at Beaver and Hickman. It was there where Ron, his wife Anna and daughter Angela were baptized. Ron and his family lived on the south side of Des Moines for several years, as well as Norwalk and Pleasant Hill where they attended the Berean Assembly of God Church. Ron worked for Library Binding Service in Des Moines, Iowa from July 1967 to November 1982 before relocating his family to Colorado in 1982. The family attended the Assembly of God Church, and the Thrive Church, with Pastor David “Bo” and Teresa Sosa in Colorado.
Ron worked as a Laborer, Forman, Supervisor, Manager and was even a Real Estate Agent in Colorado. In his last position held before retiring in 2000, he was the maintenance manager of a manufacturing facility in Colorado. Ron was in the supervision of manufacturing and production maintenance with over forty years of experience in electrical and mechanical related fields.
Due to health issues, Ron relocated to a lower elevation near Tucson, Arizona in 2002. Ron loved the majestic view of the mountains around Tucson which reminded him of Colorado which he so deeply loved. It was here that he attended the Thornydale Family Church, with Pastor Pat Damiani. In the fall of 2013, with his mother’s failing health and more great grandchildren it was time to move back to Iowa. Ron and his wife Anna attended the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ, with Pastor Michael Demastus. Ron and his wife also attended the Lighthouse Community Church on the south side of Des Moines, and currently attend the Open Bible Fellowship near their home in Ankeny, Iowa, with Pastors Rev. Wallace and Lana Shea.
Ron was a member of VFW Post 9662 and the American Legion.
Ron is survived by his wife of 53 years, Anna Marie Harsh of Ankeny, Iowa; daughter, Angela Marie Ogden and her husband, Mark of Des Moines, Iowa; son, Ron Jr. and his wife, Shelly Harsh of Wheat Ridge, Colorado; one sister, Cheryl Rydel and her husband, Boyd of Omaha, Nebraska; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Robert Harsh, Justin and Taylor Ogden and Shelby and Sydney Harsh; and five great-grandchildren, Kenzie, Gage, Keagan, Rilee and Jackson.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Norma Harsh, sister, Shirley McBride of Chesterfield, Michigan; and nephew, Charles (Mick) Weller.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, August 9, 2019 at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 10th, at the First Church of the Open Bible, 2200 Beaver Avenue in Des Moines. A private burial with military honors will be held at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter.
In lieu of flowers please help Ron on his final mission from our Heavenly Father to help build the new Open Bible Fellowship Church which will be located just east of Interstate 35 on First Street and Frisk Drive in Ankeny, Iowa. We have set up a go fund me account in which you can make contributions and donations online. Go to the search bar and type in https://www.obf.cc/ which will take you to the Open Bible Fellowship Web site then click on Our Future Building Go Fund located in the upper right. One can also write a check made out directly to the Open Bible Fellowship located at 1125 SW 3rd St. Ankeny, Iowa 50023. Write on the bottom of the check for “The New Church Building Fund in Memory of Ron Harsh”.
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6).
“May God Bless You and Thank You”.

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