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Grassi, John Ronald 'Ron'
John Ronald “Ron” Grassi, 75, of Iowa City, formerly of Coralville, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013. Visitation will be Sunday, Oct. 6, from noon to 2 p.m. at Lensing's Oak Hill, 210 Holiday Rd., Coralville, followed by a memorial service. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Iowa City Hospice, The Arthritis Foundation or to the Coralville American Legion.
Ron was born Aug. 8, 1938, in Pittsburg, Kan., the son of John and Martha (Vail) Grassi. He was raised in Pittsburg and graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1955. Following high school, Ron worked in his family's businesses in Kansas and Texas before relocating to Coralville in 1962 to run Charco's on the Coralville strip, home of the first KFC franchise in the state of Iowa. He married Letitia “Tish” Peiffer on Nov. 14, 1962. In 1969, Ron opened the KFC on Muscatine Avenue in Iowa City and ran it until retiring in 2011. Most recently, he spent over five years with Durham School Services.
Ron was a drummer, trumpeter, and vocalist with his own and other bands and had a great passion for music throughout his life. He was also founder of the Iowa City Bocce Club.
Most importantly, Ron loved people and enjoyed spending time with his family, friends, co-workers and customers. With Ron, no one was a stranger!
Survivors include his five children, Theresa “Terri” Grassi of Arlington, Texas, Amber (Joe) Pokorny of North Liberty, Debra (David) Saunders of Mesa, Ariz., John “Tad” Grassi of Forrest City, Ark., and Danielle “Dani” (Nicholas) Piere of Coralville; a brother, Brian (Heidi Nobiling) Grassi of West Liberty; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and his special aunt, Maryanne (Ralph) Wallace of Pittsburg, Kan.
Ron was preceded in death by his wife, Tish; his parents, John and Gertrude “Jenny” Grassi; his birth mother, Martha “Idella” Claar; a brother, Gary Grassi; and his beloved aunt, Ruby.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.
Published Oct. 4, 2013 in The Gazette
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