Memorial
Ronald Dietzman, 91, passed away peacefully on October 18, 2026, following a brief illness. A visitation will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home on Tuesday October 27, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., followed by a Graveside service at 1:00 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery with full military Honors.
Ronald was born on November 11, 1934 (Armistice Day), in Eagle, Wisconsin, the son of Herbert and Marion (Eye) Dietzman. He graduated from Winthrop High School (now named East Buchanan High School) in Winthrop, Iowa, on May 26, 1953. Ron enlisted in the United States Army on January 3, 1955. After boot camp, Ron was deployed to Germany where he proudly served until his honorable discharge in December 1956 (in conjunction with the inaugural Operation Santa Claus humanitarian mission).
After his military service, Ron returned to Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he worked for Colonial Bakery and Collins Radio until eventually hiring on at Iowa Electric Light and Power Company (Alliant Energy) on October 29, 1961. While Ron spent all his years working at Prairie Creek Station in Cedar Rapids, he had several different jobs including operating the Caterpillar Large-Wheel Loader for coal & ash work, working on the maintenance team, certifying as an electrician and finishing up his 35+ year Light Company career on March 1, 1997 as an instrument and controls technician.
Ron met RaMona Marlyne Stogsdill in 1957 at Danceland Ballroom in Cedar Rapids, and they were united in marriage on May 11, 1958, at Cedar Rapids United Brethren Church (former church of Wilber and Orville Wight). Together, they shared 63 years of marriage and built a life and family together.
Ronald's knowledge and love for building were evident in their home(s) and properties he and RaMona owned throughout their lives. He believed that if a job's worth doing, it was worth doing right the first time. His talents extended beyond residential construction projects to working on cars (including a complete engine rebuild), working on a wide variety of mechanical machines and electrical devices. There was great satisfaction in seeing the results of his hard work and accomplishments over the years. Those who knew Ron understood that, despite his many skills and achievements, he was never one to seek praise or recognition. He preferred to let his work product speak for itself.
Another aspect of Ron’s personality was his love of good food (and if it wasn’t good, he would certainly let everyone know). This was most likely due to the great cooks in his life, specifically, his mother, his mother-in-law Nona, and his wife. He was a real lover of soups, raw onions (especially whole onions where he would eat them like an apple) and “stinky” limburger cheese. He also had a real appetite for his mother’s Norwegian “pasties”, which became a Father’s Day tradition for many years.
Ron did enjoy his leisure activities as well. He played baseball and basketball in high school which fostered his lifelong passion for “his Cubbies” and University of Iowa basketball (both men’s and women’s). He also enjoyed fishing and boating.
Those left to honor Ronald's memory are his sister, Diana Neal (Mike Allee), his children, Randy (Denise) Dietzman, Ricc Dietzman, and RoxAnne Dietzman Drake (Rick Johnson); and his three grandchildren, Crystal Dietzman Gonzalez, Brandon (Maddy) Dietzman, and Austyn Drake (Sabrina Stutzman), plus one great-grandchild, Alexander Gonzalez.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, RaMona; his parents, four siblings (Kenneth, (infant sister) Deloris Ann, (infant brother) Carol Jene, and Dee (Dorthy)) and niece (Christine Games).
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff of St. Lukes UnityPoint Hospital and Hospice for their compassionate care and support. In addition, the family would like to acknowledge the staff at The Village Cooperative of Cedar Rapids and the many longtime residents that Ron considered his “Village family”. The family also extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at Stoney Point Meadows for their care of Ron during his most challenging months of life. Last, but not least, the family wishes to extend their appreciation to the Department of Veterans Affairs for their care and support of Ron (and all the other American patriots). Godspeed VA!
Memorial donations may be directed to UnityPoint Health – St. Luke's Health Care Foundation or UnityPoint Hospice in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.