MUSCATINE, Iowa – Ronald Francis Hartung, 82, passed away on Saturday, November 30, 2019 at home.
Visitation will be held from 4 until 7 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2019 at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Disabled American Veterans.
Online condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com
Ronald was born on October 1, 1937, in Muscatine, the son of Richard Hartung and Grace Elsie Parry Griffin. He married Shirley Gray, they later divorced. He then married Lill Irene Ingebrigtsen. She preceded him in death.
Ronald served in the military for 22 years. He was a decorated helicopter pilot in Vietnam, he flew the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, nicknamed the ‘Huey’. He earned two Bronze Stars and one Silver Star. The kids often remembered the respect that Ronald received when entering a military base to get a bargain at the PX.
Ronald’s family owned and operated a restaurant called the Chat-N-Nibble. Ron also worked in Silicon Valley as a Vice President of Marketing. Ronald was a big believer in his faith. He had a great sense of humor, loved telling jokes, he was humble and loving. He enjoyed traveling, time with family, wheeling and dealing, talking, boating, fishing, 50’s music, and American made vehicles. In later years, he loved being a Pappy and was proud of all his grandchildren. He especially enjoyed watching Hunter play football. He beamed when he heard ‘Hunter Hartung’ over the loud speaker. He also loved spending time at his house, overlooking the Mississippi River, the best view in town.
Those left to honor his memory include his children, Sheryl Hartung of Muscatine, Deborah Levonyak and husband, Mark, of Dallas, Texas, Rhonda Lowe and husband, Gary, of Muscatine, and Todd Hartung of Dallas, Texas; stepchildren, Jeff Parkin of California and Stacey Atwood of Canada; 10 grandchildren, Megan, Steve, Joshua, Sean, Katie, Nick, Alec, Chris, Miranda, and Michael, and Hunter and Grayson; and 23 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Irene; and one brother, James at birth.