Ronald J. “Ron” Kaiser

KAISER RIPPEL LAU VANDE VORDE GREEN BEHAN WESTERING GROSKURTH

Posted By: diane (email)
Date: 12/2/2021 at 18:49:08

Ronald J. “Ron” Kaiser, 83, a resident of Lexington Estates, Independence and formerly of Aurora, Iowa died Wednesday morning, December 30, 2020 at the Buchanan County Health Center in Independence, Iowa.

A private family visitation and funeral service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Independence with Pastor John Hougen officiating.

Interment: Hazleton Fontana Cemetery, Hazleton, Iowa.

Family and friends are invited to view the service on the funeral home website after Tuesday, January 5, 2021.

Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein is assisting the family.

Due to state and federal guidance on gatherings and the recent surge in the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing will be required. Those in attendance are required to wear a mask. We encourage relatives and friends not able to attend the service to reach out to the family by leaving a message on the funeral home web site, by mail, text or phone.

Ronald Joe Kaiser was born November 23, 1937 in Independence, the son of Jennings K. and Fern (Rippel) Kaiser. He attended school in Aurora and Winthrop, Iowa. Ron graduated from East Buchanan High School in the class of 1956. After graduation he attended college for two years at Colorado A&M in Fort Collins, Colorado. He returned to Aurora in 1958 to begin farming with his father southwest of Aurora. On March 25, 1962, he was united in marriage to Delores Lau at the Methodist Church in Fayette, Iowa. Ron farmed with his father until his father’s retirement in 1976. Ron and Delores continued farming, raising beef cattle, hogs and chickens, as well as soybeans, corn and hay. In 1993, Ron phased out the livestock operation because of health problems. Their son Doug joined the operation in 2000. Doug and Ron continued grain farming until Ron’s retirement in 2008, when Doug took over the entire operation.

Ron served on the East Buchanan School Board for 12 years. He was a member and former president of Backbone Country Sams Camping Club. Ron was a member of Farm Bureau, where he served on the Legislative Committee. He was a member of the Iowa Corn and Soybeans Association, as well as the Iowa Cattleman Association, where he was honored as Buchanan County Cattleman of the Year in 2003. Ron was awarded Buchanan County Conservation Award in 2005 and Northrup King High Yield Grain Award in 2007. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Hazleton, where he had served as an Elder on Session, President of Joy Builders Club and many church committees. Ron enjoyed woodworking, making many projects for family and friends, including grandfather clocks, roll top desks, tables, hutches, quilt racks, shelves and cabinets etc. He also enjoyed playing cards, bowling, camping and fishing. Ron especially enjoyed fishing trips to Canada and Minnesota.

Ron is survived by his wife: Delores Kaiser of Aurora; 4 children: Lisa (George) Vande Vorde, Doug (Audra) Kaiser all of Aurora, Lonna (Paul) Green of Ames and Jodi (Jeff) Behan of Bettendorf; 12 grandchildren: Jordan (Andrea) Vande Vorde of Aurora, Dr. Jessica Vande Vorde of St. Charles, Illinois, Janelle and Jackson Vande Vorde of Ames, Olivia Kaiser of New York City, Chloe (Ethan) Westering of Des Moines, Joseph Kaiser of Ames, Jonathan Green of US Air Force, North Dakota, Angelica Green of Ames, Zachery Behan of Bettendorf, Brandon Behan of Iowa City and Trevor Behan of Ames; and 27 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers-in-law: Lyle, Virgil, Roland, Clarence, Duane, Dale, Yvo and Darrel Lau; sisters-in-law: Leola Lau, Dorothy Groskurth, Bernice Lau and Margie Lau; and 5 nieces and nephews.