Rev. Ronald Dean RANKIN

RANKIN, TURNER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/23/2008 at 09:33:59

May 5, 1945 - June 26, 2008

DUBUQUE—The Rev. Ronald Rankin, 63, of Dubuque, and formerly of Iowa Falls, passed away on Thursday, June 26, 2008, at the Dubuque Nursing and Rehab Center, Dubuque. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 1, at the Linn’s Funeral Chapel, Iowa Falls. Burial was in the Union Cemetery, Iowa Falls.

Ronald Dean Rankin, was born on May 5, 1945 in Hampton, son of Edith M. (Turner) and Leslie M. Rankin. He grew up on a farm near Dows. He attended schools in Dows and Hampton. Even though he struggled with cerebral palsy since birth, his post-high school graduate studies included Simpson College at Mt. Vernon and Westmar College at Lemars. His theological studies included courses at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois and Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, Texas, where he obtained his Divinity Degree in 1979. He was ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church in 1970. Prior to his pastoral career, he worked at a wholesale book store and as a hotel clerk in Hampton. During his pastoral career, he served churches in Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, and was chaplain at a hospital in San Francisco, California. His first appointment in Iowa was in Carroll. His most recent appointment was at the former Faith United Methodist Church in Dubuque. Ron continued to serve the Lord providing comfort and prayer at Dubuque Nursing and Rehab, even though confined to the nursing home after a severe car accident. He was a Certified Advanced Lay Speaker and was well known for his “rousing” sermons and his witness to the power of Jesus Christ in his life.

Ronald is survived by an uncle, Maurice (Peggy) Turner of Webster City. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edith and Leslie Rankin; and a brother, Dennis.

July 2, 2008
© Iowa Falls Times Citizen 2008