116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
William “Bill” Ronnenberg Sr.
William “Bill” Ronnenberg Sr.
Cedar Rapids
William “Bill” Ronnenberg Sr., 89, passed away on February 17, 2025, at Meth-Wick Manor in Cedar Rapids surrounded by his family.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday, March 7 at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Memorial services will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 8 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1363 1st Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A luncheon will be served following the service at the church.
Bill was born September 26, 1935, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to William and Ardelia (Ward) Ronnenberg. He spent his early years on the family farm before moving to Cedar Rapids. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1953. After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He served in the United States and
Japan from 1953-1957. Upon his return he worked for Collins Radio.
In November 1957 Bill met the love of his life, Jo Ann Conner. They were married on July 25, 1959, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Bill retired from Rockwell Collins as Head of Air Transport Training in 1993. During his retirement Bill enjoyed riding RAGRAI, traveling with Jo Ann, wintering in Arizona, spending time with family and attending his grandchildren’s activities. A true outdoorsman, Bill loved camping, canoeing the boundary waters, annual fishing trips, hunting, and traveling to Alaska.
Bill is survived by his children, William Jr. and wife Chiara Giuliani, and their children, Sofia and Luisa of Washington DC; Julie Bode and husband Dwight of Coralville, Iowa, and their children Courtney, Alex (Rylee), and Elle; and Michael and wife Dr. Grace Wang-Ronnenberg, and their children Quinn and Rhett of Manchester, Iowa; and two great-granddaughters, Remi and Halsie Bode. He is also survived by his sister Rose McDonald, brother-in-law Bill Stone, sister-in-law Barb Conner and numerous nieces and nephews.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife JoAnn, his parents, stepfather Jess Phelps, and sister Violet Haerther.
They would also like to thank the healthcare providers and staff at Meth-Wick for their loving care given to Bill.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids.
Online condolences are welcome at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.
Daily Newsletters