Ronald Ginapp

Ronald Ginapp, age 71, of Marshalltown, passed away in the peace and comfort of his home on Friday Morning, August 25th.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, September 1st, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday also at the funeral home. The family invites you to attend both events in your favorite sports attire. Atlanta Braves attire will receive preferred seating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to a place he loved to visit- The Marshalltown Animal Rescue League. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234.

For those unable to attend, services will be available at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell-Family-Funeral-Home-99280714047/. Please be patient as not all services begin promptly at the start time. If there are any technical difficulties with the livestream, a recording of the services will be uploaded to the page at a later time. Thank you for understanding!

Born on January 9th, 1952, in Hampton, Iowa, he was the son of Kenet and Inez (Bell) Ginapp. Most are pretty sure he came into the world carrying a baseball, football and basketball as sports was his passion in life. The family moved to Belmond when he was very young. After graduating from Belmond High School in 1970, he attended NIACC and then Upper Iowa University in Fayette, graduating in 1974.

When he was 17, he met Nancy Johnston, also of Belmond. He would casually ask her if she needed a ride home, even though she could see her house from there, but always took him up on that offer. The two were united in marriage on June 22nd, 1974, at the Belmond United Methodist Church. This union began a colorful journey of family, careers and community.

The couple moved to Gladbrook, Iowa, where he began teaching K-12 P.E. as well as coaching high school basketball, baseball and junior high football. In that day, being coach meant you mowed the field and drove the bus to games.

In the fall of 1995, he transferred to Marshalltown, teaching driver’s ed and part-time PE at the Marshalltown High School and later moved to Rogers and Anson Elementary. He let no grass grow under his feet as he worked all year. He taught summer driver’s ed at West Marshall, had a detassling crew, announced sporting events alongside Lance Renaud, was head coach of sophomore baseball at MHS and assistant varsity coach baseball, assistant MHS varsity basketball coach and then head coach. He retired in 2010 from teaching, and 2011 from coaching. That retirement from sports did not last long…a year later he began coaching basketball for MCC until 2017.

Aside from sports, Ron had many things in life he thoroughly enjoyed. Trips to the animal rescue league, traveling (which can be compared to Clark Griswold-even with the station wagon), being a member of the ISU Section A Fan Club and the Belmond Class of 1970 and 1971 Golf League, who played with him last week at the legion. He could sing any song, sang in church choir in years past, loved the outdoors and simple things like sitting by a brush pile fire, giving time at Big Brothers/Big Sisters, attending nearly 40 Three-Dog Night concerts, time with family and friends, and had a mischievous side. He was a man’s man but also had a kind, soft and sentimental side. Ron could go from sports to brushing Stacey’s hair.

Left to cherish his memory are Nancy, his loving wife of 49 years; his children- Nick (Cassie) Ginapp of Crete, NE; Stacey (Michael) Barta of Johnston and Brad Ginapp of Georgia; grandchildren- Kenley, Peyton, Ellie and Laney Ginapp, Luke, Greta Barta and Aubrey and Gracie Ginapp; his brothers- Roger (Pat) Ginapp of Garner, IA and Bob (Teresa) Ginapp of Rockmart, GA, as well as many other family, former students and athletes and friends.

In death, Ron rejoined his parents, his in-laws Maynard and Shirley Johnston and granddaughter Bridget Barta.