Ronald LeeRoy Yeager, 85, of Maquoketa, Iowa, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at the Mill Valley Care Center, Bellevue, Iowa.

Ron was born September 12, 1939, at the Leroy Hospital in Maquoketa to Dean and Ava Marie (Risinger) Yeager.  His first two years of school were at the Buckhorn School, then he completed his primary and secondary education at Elwood, graduating in 1956. He attended the University of Iowa for a year and a half. Ron married Marlyce Trimble in 1959 and brought forth two children Pamela (Mark) Meyer and Bruce (Cynthia Lett). Ron was united in marriage to Violet Barten on December 17, 1988, at the First Lutheran Church in Maquoketa, and was graced with two more children, Corby (Kim) Miller and Cammy (Steve) Schrobilgen.

Ron farmed in the Buckhorn community his entire life.  He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Maquoketa and the Jackson County Historical Society.  He bowled his first games at Tubbs’ Lanes on East Platt in Maquoketa and was hooked. Ron became an avid bowler when the new lanes were built in town. He bowled the 5th sanctioned 800 series in the state of Iowa and won nine Iowa State Bowling Titles. He was inducted into the Iowa State Bowling Hall of Fame in 1984.

Good weather is essential to a farmer, and Ron managed to keep meticulous records of the activity at the farm, and adjacent locales, for decades. He ran a reporting outpost for the National Weather Bureau for 18 years at Willow Pond Farm which kept him tethered to the place he cherished most. His love of the seasons and the growth of the landscape was apparent in all his observations and conversations, be they with family or with the breakfast club. Ron and Vi spent many hours, days and miles going antiquing. They enjoyed this pastime immensely.

He cherished moments with his grandchildren, and any opportunity to tell stories, share his remarkable memory, cultivate perspective and a refreshed outlook in their worlds. Like his family before him, time spent fishing at the pond and playing games from cards to chess with the kids was enriching for all.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Vi Yeager of Maquoketa; his children Pam (Mark) Meyer of Dewitt, Iowa, and Bruce (Cynthia) Yeager of Chicago, Illinois; his step children Corby (Kim) Miller of Hutchison, Kansas, and Cammy (Steve) Schrobilgen of Rogers, Arkansas; and six grandchildren, Brigitta Meyer, Amber (Blain) Chambers, Evan and Aneliese Yeager, and Lexi (Brian) McCoun and Cade Schrobilgen.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025, at the Carson Celebration of Life Center, Maquoketa.  Burial will follow at Union Cemetery, Maquoketa.  Visitation will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 pm on Friday, May 2nd, 2025, at the Carson Celebration of Life Center, Maquoketa. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made in Ron’s name to Above and Beyond Hospice and Jackson County and Historical Society.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.CarsonAndSon.com.