Ronald E. Dannen

Ronald “Ron” E. Dannen, 78, of Grimes, Iowa passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2026 at MercyOne Hospital in Des Moines, IA. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at St. James Lutheran Church in Mason City, Iowa, with Pastor Sid Bohls officiating. Visitation will take place the night prior, Monday, March 30, 2026 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Major Erickson Funeral Home, as well as one hour prior to the service Tuesday morning. Interment will take place at Elmwood St. Joseph Cemetery immediately following the service.

The family requests memorial donations be directed to a charity of your choice in honor of Ron.

Ronald “Ron” Eugene Dannen was born on May 27, 1947 in Mason City, IA to Else and Irene (Muhlenbruch) Dannen. He graduated from Rockwell-Swaledale High School in 1965. Following high school, Ron was drafted into the Army Artillery. His artillery unit was called the Big Red 1 and was attached to the First Infantry Division from 1965-1968. During combat in Vietnam as a First Sergeant, he sustained an injury and was moved to a hospital in Japan. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1968 and received a Purple Heart.

In September of 1972, Ron was united in marriage with Leilani Hartwig at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Thornton, IA. With this union, they had a son, Ryan and a daughter, Kiley. After returning from Vietnam, Ron attended and graduated from Hamilton Business College. He worked on the Hartwig family farm in between employment for Jaydon Distribution and starting Dannen’s Clothing for Men in Hampton, IA in 1983. After moving back to Mason City in 1985, he would go on to work as an insurance agent for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. After semi-retiring from insurance, Ron worked at Gildner’s Clothing Store before finishing his career at Moorman’s Clothiers in Mason City.

During his younger years, Ron played basketball and baseball in high school. He could roller skate and dance with the best of them and was known to tear up the dance floor at many weddings. Ron was a collector of muscle cars, especially the Pontiac GTO during the 1960’s and 1970’s. He wouldn’t hesitate to show them off to people interested in testing their speed. He sang with the River City Barbershop Choir and loved singing with the St. James Lutheran Church choir, as well as at friends' weddings.

Ron enjoyed traveling, fishing, spending time with family and watching his grandkids’ activities. He was an avid coach for Ryan’s baseball teams and volunteered for the Boy Scouts. The boys shared great experiences camping at the Boundary Waters. He had many memorable vacations like an Alaskan cruise with cousins, Hawaii with his family, and for the past 15 years has looked forward to the annual Northern Minnesota trip with his family.

Ron is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Leilani Lee Dannen; his children, Ryan (Alison) Dannen and their children, Aiden and Addison Dannen of Mason City, IA; daughter, Kiley (Ben) Logan and their children, Brody and Lauren Logan of Grimes, IA. He is also survived by siblings: Sharon Burkhart, Linda Schulz, and Vern (Jan) Dannen and brother-in-law Max (Gaylynn Ryan) Hartwig, and sister-in-law Rosalie Hartwig as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents: Else and Irene Dannen, in-laws, George “Tom” and Ruth “Irene” Hartwig, brother, Duane “Pete” Dannen and brothers-in-law, Mitchel Hartwig, Carl Burkhart and Paul Schulz.