Ronald Johnson

Ronald Johnson, 83, of Ames passed away on February 4, 2024. Ron was born on January 7, 1941 to Leo and Leona (Cavanaugh) Johnson, in Ames, IA . He attended Ames High School and graduated with the class of 1959. Ron had a love of cars, so following graduation this passion took him into work at various Chevy garages in Ames in the early 1960's. Eventually he went to work at City Electric Supply of Ames as a salesman and delivery driver. Ron was a devoted employee there for over 31 years, retiring in 2004 at age 63. Ron's love of Chevy cars was widely known in Ames (and surrounding towns) in the late 1950's and early 1960's. He loved Chevrolet, loved to make his cars fast, and had some of the fastest cars in the area, his souped-up 1955 Chevy Station Wagon going u...[more]

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feated for a time at the Des Moines Dragway. Ron also loved the Iowa State Cyclones. He was an avid fan of ISU football, basketball, and especially wrestling, attending many games and meets throughout the years. Ron has been a member of LifePointe Church in Ames since 1992, volunteering in many different roles over the years, including Bible Quiz, and driving the church van to pick up community children for youth programming. Ron learned to play the accordion at a young age, and he became a skilled player, entertaining family & friends at various events throughout the years. He especially loved regularly visiting nursing homes all around Central Iowa and playing his beautiful accordion music for residents. In his spare time, Ron could often be found spending time with any one of his kids and grandkids. He loved to watch his own children in athletics & activities, and that continued with his grandkids, as he very often drove all over the state of Iowa and also to Minnesota to watch his grandkids participate in sports and support them in their activities. Ron also enjoyed pheasant hunting and fishing, again often engaging in these activities with his children & grandchildren. Left to cherish Ron's memory is his wife Kathy, sister Sharon Cruse (Ray) of Iowa; children: Gregg Johnson (Amy) of Idaho, Michelle Kiefer (Mike) of Minnesota, Jennifer Loining of Minnesota, Becky Brown (Bill), of Iowa, Justin Johnson of Texas, and Jarrod Johnson (Synthia) of California; stepchildren Jennifer Bruggeman (Wayne) of Iowa and Chad Bishop (Wenda) of Iowa Damon Vilmont, and Nathan Vilmont; Grandchildren: Ethan Johnson, Hunter Breidenbach, Mason Breidenbach, Skye Breidenbach, Logan Kiefer (Karley), Landon Kiefer, Isaac Clavero (Amber), Ezra Clavero, Lydia Clavero, Moriah Clavero, Benjamin Brown, Joseph Brown (Samantha), Elijah Johnson (Mira), Ariela Cory (Grant), Shewaye Johnson, Jonas Johnson, Tamir Johnson, Rachel Johnson, Emily Ordonez (Leo), Nathanael Johnson, Andrea Van Hoang (Torez), Ashley Vedquam (Brandon), Lexia Junker (Jeremy), and Christian Bishop (Cassandra), as well as thirteen great-grandchildren. Ron is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Larry Johnson, and two grandsons, Michael Jayson Johnson, and Charlton William Bishop. A visitation will be held on Sunday, February 11, 2024, from 2:00-4:00 PM at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care (414 Lincoln Way, Ames Iowa 50010) with a funeral service to be held on Monday, February 12, at 10:00 AM at Life Pointe Church (409 13th St, Ames, IA 50010) In lieu of flowers please feel free to make a memorial donation to LifePointe Church in Ames in Ron's name. Online condolences can be made to: www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com