"Mr Sturms allowed me to teach the Business Law class under his supervision to see if I wanted to pursue a teaching career. At the end he guided me to use the skills he saw in Business Management. Fantastic guidance and the career path I am still doing ;6 years later. RIP Mr Sturms. You helped more of us find our way than you dreamed of. "
In loving memory of
Ronald D. Sturms
June 24, 1935 - November 2, 2019
RONALD D. STURMS
MUSCATINE, Iowa - Ronald D. Sturms, 84, of Muscatine, passed away on Saturday, November 2, 2019, at Premier Estates.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at St Mathias Church. Reverend Troy Richmond will officiate. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery following the service. Memorials may be made to Ss. Mary and Mathias Parish, the Community Foundation of Muscatine, and Compassus Hospice. Online condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6, 2019, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. There will be a Rosary Prayer service to begin the visitation.
Ronald was born June 24, 1935, in Muscatine, Iowa, the son of Robert W. and Mildred M. Koll Sturms. He married Marilyn A. Wagner on June 7, 1958 in Mason City, Iowa.
He was a teacher for the Muscatine School District for 37 years, he retired in 1992. Ronald graduated from Muscatine High School in 1953 and later graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1957. He was a member at St. Mathias Church, former Director at Community Bank, former Chairman for Muscatine Power and Water Board, a past president of Hayes School, Zoning Board and Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Bryn Mawr Ocean Tower in Ft Pierce Florida. Ronald was a veteran of the US Army.
Those left to honor his memory include his wife Marilyn Sturms of Muscatine; brother-in-law, Dick Wagner and his wife, Nadine, of Mason City; sister-in-law, Marjorie Martin and her husband, Jim, of Tucson, Arizona; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, William J. Sturms and sister in law, Mary Ann Sturms.
Tributes
"We remember Ron from when we first moved to Bryn Mawr. Both he and Marilyn made us feel very welcome. We always appreciated his involvement in our community and diligence as a member of the Association's Board. Rest in peace, Ron"
"RIP my mentor and friend. I will be forever grateful for your guidance and support. "
"I fondly remember Mr Sturms as one of my best teachers. Sending my sympathy. "
"Mr. Sturms was without a doubt the finest teacher I ever had and that includes elementary, junior high, high school and undergraduate and graduate school. I moved to Muscatine between my sophomore and junior year from a small town in NW Nebraska with a population of 1228 and 100 kids in high school to Muscatine with 10 times the number of kids in high school. For some reason I decided to take Business Law from Mr. Sturms. He welcomed me warmly and taught me so much. His classroom decorum was firm, fair and often fun because he enjoyed good-naturedly ribbing us. He called his students by our last names all the time. So it wasn't Bob, Harold or Jon. It was always Dreyer, Lloyd, Hanson, etc. He was also our advisor for Newspaper and though that class was more laid back, every student respected him and behaved, even me for the most part. I never planned on going to college as no one in my family or extended family had ever gone to college. But Mr. Sturms kept encouraging me to go to college but I had not funds. Somehow at the end of my senior year I received a $300 scholarship and that was enough to nudge me to enroll at Wartburg College. I never knew how I got that scholarship but I believe Mr. Sturms had a hand in it. My major was Business Education so I could teach like Mr. Sturms hoping I could be half the teacher he was. I ended up graduating from Iowa with a degree in Business. I also had joined ROTC and was commissioned in the Air Force and spent 22 years there. Mr. Sturms was an outstanding person and role model I tried to emulate as much as I could. I will truly miss him!! Rest in Peace and Godspeed, Sir. Bob Dreyer Lt. Col. USAF (retired)"
"Ron was a great guy and friend he will be missed ... rest in peace my friend "
"Mr Sturms was tough but fair. He was my typing teacher and I am thankful every day for my skills. There are several tributes on my facebook page from many students. He was a wonderful teacher. Prayers to his family during this time. Diane Vander Linden "
"Sorry to see the loss of one of great teachers. Mr. Sturms taught me so much besides the subject matter. He left so many life lessons with me. Godspeed and rest in peace. Heaven has gained a great educator."
"It was my privilege and honor to teach at MHS when Ron was there. He will be missed greatly. Shelley Frost"
"Ron was a good friend and will be missed by all of us here in Florida"
"Marilyn, Wally and I are so sorry to hear of your loss. Blessings to you at this time."
"Although I only had him for one class in 1986, he was a positive influence in my life to this day. Godspeed Mr. Sturms"
"hello Marilyn: kay and I a so sorry to learn about ron. I always knew that he was a "teachers teacher" he was the best. I remembered when you visited us in florida. may the lord be very special and close to you at this difficult time."
"With fond memories of Ron and Muscatine High School halls, rest in peace, friend."
"It with deepest regrets and a heavy heart that I read of Ron's passing. He was a great friend and a true Musky. I will miss being able to talk with him and his wife. Muscatine lost a wonderful teacher and a man who was always thinking of others and how he could serve them. Rest in Peace my friend. "