Ronald Dale Vander Ploeg
July 26, 1941 - September 22, 2017

Ronald Dale Vander Ploeg, 76 of Pleasant Hill, Iowa (Formerly of Prairie City, Iowa) peacefully passed away on Friday, September 22, 2017, at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at Coburn Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Waveland Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Friday, October 6, 2017, from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa and condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com
Ronald was born on July 26, 1941 to Harold and Gladys Vander Ploeg. He grew up in Prairie City and graduated from high school in 1959, and graduated from A.I.B (American Institute of Business) in 1961. He joined the Navy reserves in 1962, and was stationed on the U.S.S. Sierra (destroyer tender) in Norfolk, Virginia from 1963 - 1965. In 1964, he married his wife of 53 years Arleen Gross of Osceola, Iowa. He and Arleen met on a blind date during his A.I.B. years. During his younger years, he enjoyed snowmobiling, golfing, square dancing and all types of automobile racing. In his later years he enjoyed riding his motorcycle and Goldwing trike with the GWRRA Chapter A group in Des Moines and close friends. His love of NASCAR automobile races continued and he and Arleen attended many races across the nation.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Arleen; their son, Alan (Dr. Merri Kae) Vander Ploeg of Stafford, Virginia; two grandchildren - Dylan Vander Ploeg and Wendy Vander Ploeg; his sister, Sharon Nuzum of Valrico, Florida; his nieces, nephews and many cousins and their families.

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