Ronald E. Dorrell, Sr.

Ronald E. Dorrell, Sr. 89, of Winterset, died Monday, April 18, 2011 at the Winterset Care Center North. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 21, 2011 at Ochiltree Funeral Service, Winterset. A visitation will be held from 1 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at Ochiltree Funeral Service, where the family will be present to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.. A Masonic Service will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday evening immediately following the visitation. Burial will be in the Winterset Cemetery and memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be directed to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8142 of Winterset. Ronald Earl Dorrell, Sr. was born in Indianola, Iowa on December 20, 1921, the son of Gold S. and Bertha P. (Gordon) Dorrell. He was the youngest of nine children and spent his youth in Madison County before leaving to enter into military service in 1942. He served his country in the United States Army from October of 1942 to November of 1945. After returning home from the Pacific Theater, Ronald married Betty I. (Hern) Wise on September 19, 1946 and settled in Winterset. They raised their five children in the home Ronnie built and where he lived for over sixty years. He culminated a long working life including house painter, bridge construction and truck driver with retirement in 1986 from Grip-Tite Manufacturing. In the 60’s and 70’s, Ronnie was an active member of the Winterset VFW, participating in the Honor Guard and presenting colors at the Iowa Girls State Basketball Tournament for several years. He was also a member of the Winterset American Legion and Evening Star Masonic Lodge A.F & A.M. #43 of Winterset. Ronnie is survived by his children, Richard (Linda) Wise, Sr. of Winterset; Connie (Jim) Miller of Truro; Ron Dorrell, Jr.; Linda Kelly and Amy Sawyers all of Winterset. He is also survived by his 14 grandchildren, Brenda Ford; Rick Wise; Michael (Amber Walker) Wise; Bronna Wise; Greg (Heidi) Dorrell; Doug (Qiue) Dorrell all of Winterset; Bill (Amy) Hackley of Truro; Melissa (Kyle) Rice and Jack Sawyers of Des Moines; Bryan Sawyers of Oxford, MS and Nick Sawyers of Ames; Lori (Joe Kelly) Soloman of Van Meter; Luci Dalton of Dallas Center and Todd (Jamie) Miller of Omaha, NE; and 14 great grandchildren, Elizabeth, Alyson and Emily Ford; Madalynn Wise; Kaitlyn and Michael Hackley; Devin and Emma Dorrell; Ashley, Stephanie and Jessie Soloman, Wesley Dalton; Natalie and Jack Miller. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, including Rex (Ruthie) Dorrell of Winterset. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; and daughter, Martha Jean Dorrell; son-in-law, Loren Kelly; his parents and siblings, twin brother, Donald; brothers Warren, Nick and Woody Dorrell; twins, Bill Dorrell and Betty O’Neil and twins, Bea Bradshaw and Lillian Allen.