Ron Long

Ron Long, age 75, of Lee’s Summit, MO., formerly of Marshalltown, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday morning, March 18th, at the Lee’s Summit Medical Center.           A Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 22nd, at the 1st Congregational Church in Marshalltown. He will be honored by his colleagues and contemporaries from the combined VFW and American Legion Honor Guard with military honors. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com . Ph. 641-844-1234.           Born on August 15th, 1942, in Marshalltown, Ron was one of two sons born to Clarence and Wilda Long. He graduated from the Marshalltown High School in 1960 and Parsons College in Fairfield, IA, in 1965 with his BA. In 1990, he received his MS from Iowa State University in Journalism/Mass Communications.            Ron served our country honorably in the United States Army from February of 1966 until December of 1968. He was stationed at Ft. Knox, KY and Camp Drum, NY, and was honorably discharged at 1st Lt.           On July 24th, 1971, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Vicki Weissinger. They made their home in Marshalltown where Ron was employed at the Times-Republican. Later, he worked for XEROX Corporation (Fisher Controls and Iowa Methodist in Des Moines sites) until retiring in January of 2006. Being a person of a strong work ethic, he chose to be a patient attendant at McFarland Clinic from “retirement” until they couple moved to Lee’s Summit in July of 2014 to be near family.           Ron was an active and well-loved member of the 1st Congregational Church in Marshalltown since 1971 and served on the Diaconate and Board of Trustees, Marshalltown Junior Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion and the Optimist Club. He was a man devoted to his passions in life- faith, family and country. He thoroughly enjoyed the time with grandchildren and attending their school and sporting events.           Left to cherish his memory are Vicki, his loving wife of 46 years, their son-Jeb (Erica) and their children Dylan, Elianna and Rory all of Lee’s Summit; and many friends.            In death, he rejoined his parents, his brother Herb who died in 2016; in-laws Frank and Fran Weissinger; and grandparents- Ezra and Kate Long and Wilbur and Lottie Renbarger.