Ronald (Ron) Dale Zickefoose was born in Hampton, Iowa, on August 3, 1944, to Donna Belle (née Edgington) and James Willard Zickefoose. Ron passed away on February 11, 2025.
A visitation will be held for Ron on Saturday March 8, 2025, from 10A.M.- 11A.M, followed by a memorial service at 11:00A.M., at the First United Methodist Church, 510 Thompson Street in Sheffield, Iowa. The family will host a luncheon following the service.
Donations may go to the Iowa Prairie Network in memory of Ron. https://www.iowaprairienetwork.org/donate
Ron grew up in Sheffield, Iowa, and remained there as a lifelong resident. Ron was a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church in Sheffield, and he attended Sheffield Chapin High School, graduating in 1963.
Ron was a farmer, learning the trade from his father and grandfather, Clarence Edgington. Often, Ron spotted a glint in the field, stopped the tractor, and found numerous Native American artifacts in the soil. He was known for his interest in nature, often sending native Iowa seeds to his children as gifts. He would thoughtfully seal the seeds in small plastic bags and label the packets in his unique print – “Purple Prairie Clover”, “Black-Eyed Susan”, or “Purple Coneflower”.
Ron spent the last 68 years deer hunting the first weekend in December in Lansing, Iowa. He looked forward to this weekend every year. He was introduced to deer hunting at the age of 12 by his father. He loved to be outdoors and walk the hills and valleys of this little town by the river; his annual trips were just as likely to result in beautiful photographs as a big buck. Ron enjoyed teaching hunting skills to the younger generations, including his children, son-in-law, friends, and grandsons.
Ron learned the trade of woodworking and put it to use when he remodeled his 1941 brick dairy barn into his home, carefully crafting each detail to ensure that the barn maintained its original integrity.
Ron is survived by his four children and seven grandchildren: Nicole Zickefoose (Chad Kinart) and Liam and Finn Kinart of Maple Grove, Minnesota; Summer Zickefoose (Joe D’Uva) and Felix and Ellis D’Uva of Canfield, Ohio; Benjamin Zickefoose and Kacey, Ethan, and Ezra of Clear, Lake, Iowa; and Daniel Zickefoose of Denver, Colorado. Ron is also survived by Erin Bastian, his former wife and mother of their children. Ron was the eldest of four and is survived by his three younger sisters, Sandy Weber, Dee Peter, and Jan Dorenkamp, their spouses, and several nieces and nephews. Ron is also survived by his beloved chocolate lab, Luka. Ron was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and two nephews, Greg Weber and Drew Dorenkamp.
When Ron dressed up, he wore his “good” pair of Wrangler jeans and his “nice” cowboy boots. Please join us at the memorial service and wear your jeans and boots in remembrance of Ron’s signature style.
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