Ronald Eugene HARMS

HARMS, HEGINGER, MICKELSON, EWERS, WIEMANN, MUNDEN, HANSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:47

Ronald Eugene Harms
13 April 1950 --- 17 August 2021

Ronald E. Harms, 71, Belmond, died Aug. 17, 2021 at Westview Care Center in Britt. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Aug. 23 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Belmond. Graveside services followed at the church cemetery south of Belmond.

Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association, Gateway Hospice, Belmond-Klemme Scholarship Foundation II, or the St. Francis Xavier Capital Campaign.

Ron, the son of Taus and Cecilia (Heginger) Harms, was born April 13, 1950 in the Belmond hospital. He grew up near Meservey, graduating from Meservey- Thornton High School in 1968. Prior to graduation he worked nights at the Goldfield Creamery.

Ron met the love of his life in August 1968 and married Nancy Mickelson on April 18, 1970. They recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. They made their home in the Belmond area where Ron worked for Russ Schaal as a federal grain inspector and obtained his license. Choosing to stay in the area, he accepted a job at Acco Seeds in Belmond and was eventually promoted to assistant plant manager. Later in life he worked for St. Ansgar Mills as the manager of the Belmond elevator on the hill. Ron retired from Yohn Co. in December 2012.

Ron loved being a husband, father, and grandfather. Ron and Nancy enjoyed motorcycling and cruising in the convertible while listening to 50’s and 60’s music. They also enjoyed travel by cruise ship with family to the Bahamas, Alaska, and the Mediterranean. Ron’s nickname was HarmsZ, and he was always easygoing and ready for a good time. You could find him at most family reunions at the table with a deck of cards and quarters for a game of 31. Friends and family would describe him as a jokester with a contagious laugh. Ron was passionate about tractors. He refurbished a John Deere to drive in town parades and was an avid collector of toy tractor models. He also loved all ice cream and discovered he was a fan of gelato during a family trip to Italy. Ron cherished time with his family and friends and never met a stranger.

Ron was a member of St. Francis Xavier Church. For years he was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Belmond Volunteer Fire Department.

He was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws Clarence and Ruth Mickelson; brothers Bennie Harms, Taus Harms, Jr. and Donnie Harms; sisters Darlene (Harms) Ewers and Arlene (Harms) Wiemann; and sister-in-law Kaye (Mickelson) Munden.

Ron is survived by his wife Nancy; daughter Carrie (Harms) Hanson and her husband Justin of Noblesville, IN; grandchildren Tyler and Abagail of Noblesville; siblings Larry (Maxine) Harms of Sheldon, Harry (Barb) Harms of Hampton, Gary Harms of Belmond, and Jerry (Marlene) Harms of Evansdale; sisters-in-law Georgia Harms of Hampton and Rose Mickelson of Lincoln, NE; brothers-in-law Mick Mickelson of Belmond and and Daryl Munden of Rochester, MN; and numerous nieces and nephews who called him Uncle Ron or Uncle Ronnie.

Belmond Independent -- Belmond, Iowa
August 24, 2021