Ronald "Ron" James Reed

Ronald "Ron" J. Reed, age 71 of Albia, passed away on Tuesday, August 12, 2014, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, surrounded by his family. Ron was born January 16, 1943, in Albia, Iowa to Tobe and Elsie (Carlson) Reed. He graduated from Albia High School in 1961. He married Sharon Ann Maddison on June 27, 1964 in Albia, and to this union, 2 children, Cynthia (Cindy) Ann and Bryan James, were born. Ron worked at the Albia Hy-Vee for 12 years. He served 6 years in the Iowa National Guard in the Engineering Company. Ron and Sharon farmed for nearly 50 years in Monroe County, and for 43 years owned and operated a dump truck business and during that time, he hauled rock, sand, asphalt and ag lime. Ron served for 10 years on the Eddyville and Eddyville-Blakesburg school board. He also served on the Tri-County Development Corporation, which was formed after Cargill and Heartland Lysine were built in Eddyville. Ron served as past president and long standing board member on both the Monroe County Fair Board and the Monroe County Extension Council, as vice chairman on the 1st Monroe County Land Commission in 1982, was a 4-H leader for 15 years as well as a Monroe County 4-H sheep superintendent, served on the Monroe County Assessor's Board, and was currently the President of Service Chapel Cemetery Board of Trustees. Ron was a member of the First Christian Church in Albia, as well as a member of the Southern Iowa Vintage Tractor Club, the Monroe County Farm Bureau, the Iowa/ Monroe County Cattlemen's Association, and the American Legion. Along with farming and driving dump trucks, Ron enjoyed following NASCAR races, his children, and now his grandchildren's activities which include sporting events, and watching cattle shows and other livestock shows at both the Monroe County Fair and the Iowa State Fair. Through the years Ron received some great recognition for all of his involvement and hard work in Monroe County. He received many awards, including, Award of Merit for the Eddyville-Blakesburg Community School District Board of Directors 1985-1995, Pleasant Pacers 4-H Club Appreciation (15 years), Iowa Master Corn Growers Contest (1972, 1999, and 2004), was inducted into Monroe County Farm Bureau Ag Hall of Fame in 2010, received the Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation Achievement Award in 2013, and will be recognized for the Local Water Protection Program Award from the Iowa Finance Authority and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship on September 3, 2014. Ron is survived by his wife, Sharon; his two children, Cindy (Mike) Shull and Bryan (Amber) Reed both of Albia; 4 grandchildren, Colton Shull and Jayce, Brayden and Ashlyn Reed; 4 brothers, Ray (Pat) Reed, David Reed, Terry (Carol) Reed and Randy (Penny) Reed; a sister-in-law, Jo'An Reed, a brother-in-law, Dale (Janet) Maddison; and an aunt, Ruth Keegel. Ron is also survived by many special nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tobe and Elsie Reed; an infant brother and a brother, Robert (Bob) Reed; a sister, Nellie M. Reed Osborn and her husband, Ramon Osborn; his grandparents; several aunts and uncles; and a great nephew. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, August 18, 2014, at the First Christian Church in Albia, with Lynda Carlson officiating, burial will follow services at Service Chapel Cemetery in rural Monroe County. Visitation will be 1-8 p.m., Sunday, August 17, 2014, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Ron's family present 4-8 p.m. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church in Albia or the Monroe County Fair.

Ronald "Ron" James Reed

January 16, 1943 - August 12, 2014