Ronald E Opland

Ronald E. Opland, 93, formerly of Newton, Kansas passed away on May 3, 2025, at Kennybrook Village Retirement Community in Grimes, Iowa. He was born June 2, 1931, in Dell Rapids, South Dakota to Togo and Alice (Wilkison) Opland. Ron graduated from Onawa High School in Iowa, then proceeded to Iowa State University, majoring in Engineering. After a few years at ISU, he joined the Navy and spent most of that time overseas supporting the Korean War effort as an Aerographer’s Mate.

After discharge from the Navy, he returned to Nebraska where he resumed his Engineering studies at the University of Nebraska where he met his future wife, Dee Mills. Ron and Dee were married on July 3, 1958, in Lincoln. Ron graduated in the spring of 1959 with a degree in Civil Engineering.

In the summer of 1970 Ron and Dee relocated to Newton, Kansas with their three sons, where he worked as an Engineer for Prestressed Concrete of Newton until his retirement in 1996. In later years he loved building and flying remote control airplanes, riding his bicycle around the trails of Newton, and traveling the US and Canada.

After being a widower for a time, Ron became reacquainted with his second wife, Mary Jane, at a high school reunion and they were married in November of 2007. He subsequently moved to the Des Moines area to be with Mary Jane and her family until his passing.

He is survived by his sons, Mark (Terry) Opland of Denver, Colorado; Steve (Becky) Opland of Newton, Kansas; Greg (Felicia) Opland of Phoenix, Arizona; his second wife, Mary Jane Opland of Grimes, Iowa; five grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Togo Opland and Alice Sager; his wife, Dee; and his sister, Barb.

A celebration of life will be held Friday, May 9th at 2 pm at Merle Hay Funeral Home in Des Moines, Iowa. Ron’s cremated remains will be laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton Kansas with military honors at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Suncrest Hospice (West Des Moines) or American Cancer Society.