11/10/1995
A Mass of Christian Burial for Ronald Mark Rankin, 40, of Des Moines, died Friday, November 10, 1995 in Des Moines, of a gunshot wound, was held November 15, 1995, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Knoxville. The death has been rued a suicide.
Military rites were conducted by Baty-Tucker American Legion Post
#168, and John Myers V.F.W. Post #3519. Burial was at Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville.
The Rev. Philip Cardenzana officiated at the services. Music was provided by the
St. Anthony Choir. Pallbearers were Dick Ford, Mark Gvist, Gary Ordway, Robert Propst,
Dave Klingaman and Morris McKinney. Honorary bearers were Ron Jones, Steve Eck,
Don Rankin, John Mavin, Doyle Rankin and Harry Perkins.
Ron was born April 23, 1955,
in Oskaloosa, the son of Clair and Lois Murphy Rankin. He was raised in Knoxville
and graduated in 1973. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force, and was discharged
with honors.
He returned to Iowa and graduated from Grandview College, and earned
a law degree from Drake Law School. He worked for the Patterson, Lorentzen, Duffield,
Timmons, Irish, Becker & Ordway Law Firm, where he eventually became a partner.
He was a member of the Polk County and Iowa Bar Associations. He was preceded in
death by his paternal and maternal grandparents.
He is survived by his parents,
of Knoxville; and five brothers, Lawrence of Ankeny, Robert of Summerfield, Fla.,
and Edward, Christopher and Tom, all of Knoxville.
Memorials may be made to the
Ron Rankin Knoxville High School Scholarship Fund. Arrangements were made by Bybee
and Davis Funeral Home in Knoxville.