Ron Adams, 77

Ron Adams

Ron Adams, 77, of Grinnell, died at his home on Thursday, October 13, 2022.

A funeral service with military honors was held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Interment was held at Westfield Cemetery south of Grinnell. A luncheon followed at the Eagles in Grinnell.

Visitation was held at 1:00 pm on Monday at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell and his family received friends from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm.

Memorials may be designated to the Ron Adams Memorial Fund to benefit local organizations selected by the family and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with his family online at www.smithfh.com.

Ronald Eugene Adams was born the son of Virgil and Grace (Anderson) Adams in Newton, Iowa, on September 20, 1945. He was known as Ronnie to many. He lived on his grandparents farm in Kellogg Township, Newton, Iowa. At the age of 5, the family moved to the farm in Malcom Township, Malcom, Iowa. He attended country schools and Malcom and graduated from BGM, with the class of 1964. He honorably served in the United States Army.

Ron married Paulette “Polly” Wells on October 2, 1965, at the Grinnell Christian Church. They lived a short time in Grinnell before moving to Ronnie’s farm in Sheridan Township, Malcom, Iowa. From that marriage they had Angie and Teresa.

Ron was united in marriage to Mary Jo Gilbert on September 14, 1974, in Elk Point, South Dakota. This marriage added Mary Jo’s son, Tim to the family. Later the two were blessed with their daughter, Janene. The couple resided near Malcom, where Ron farmed and raised livestock with his dad. Ron owned and operated Adams Trucking. The couple moved to Grinnell in 1995, where Ron worked for the Iowa Department of Transportation as a highway technician. Mary Jo passed away on January 29, 2011.

He was united in marriage to Dixie Shaw on May 2, 2015, at their home in Grinnell. The couple has enjoyed their retirement years living on an acreage south of Grinnell.

Ron was a hard-worker. He was always planning his next project to complete. He was gifted mechanically and a skillful wood worker. His enjoyments were motorcycle rides, going for coffee time with the guys, traveling, camping, dancing and being with his family. He will be remembered for his humor, jokes, being dependable, kindness and carrying that big smile.

Ron is survived by his wife, Dixie Adams, of Grinnell; his children: Angela (Rusty) Massengale, of Malcom, IA, Teresa Adams (Scott Shadden), of Tama, IA and Janene (Damian) Imhoff, of Grinnell; step-children: Tim (Paula Simon) Elliott, of Grinnell, Angie (Mark) Smith, of New Sharon, IA, and Ashlee (Shane) Angle, of New Sharon; his sister, Beverly Squiers, of Chelsea, IA and her family; grandchildren: Jake Robison, Jessica (Joe) Tass, Lisa Hinman, Madison and Mckinze Elliott, Ashlyn, Rylie and Dawsan Imhoff, Tyler (Nicole) Smith, Tara (Tyler) Grier, Tori (Jesse) Smith, Kenzie, Taylor and Chance Angle; great grandchildren: Westlyn Tass, Levi and Nash Grier, and Waylon and Myron Smith and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary Jo Adams; step-daughter-in-law, Robin Elliott; and brother-in-law, Keith Squiers.