Ronald D. Vander Ploeg

Ronald Dale Vander Ploeg, 76, of Pleasant Hill, formerly of Prairie City, peacefully passed away Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines. A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 at Coburn Funeral Home in Prairie City. Burial will follow at Waveland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6 at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa and condolences may be left for the family at coburnfuneralhomes.com.

Ronald was born July 26, 1941 to Harold and Gladys Vander Ploeg. He grew up in Prairie City, graduated from high school in 1959, and graduated from American Institute of Business in 1961. He joined the Navy reserves in 1962, and was stationed on the U.S.S. Sierra (destroyer tender) in Norfolk, Va., from 1963-1965. In 1964, he married his wife of 53 years, Arleen Gross of Osceola. He and Arleen met on a blind date during his A.I.B. years. During his younger years, he enjoyed snowmobiling, golfing, square dancing and all types of automobile racing. In his later years, he enjoyed riding his motorcycle and Goldwing trike with the GWRRA Chapter A group in Des Moines and close friends. His love of NASCAR automobile races and he and Arleen attended many races across the nation.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Arleen; their son, Alan (Dr. Merri Kae) Vander Ploeg of Stafford, Va.; two grandchildren, Dylan Vander Ploeg and Wendy Vander Ploeg; his sister, Sharon Nuzum of Valrico, Fla.; his nieces, nephews and many cousins and their families.