Ronald "Ronnie" Bird

Ronnie Dean Bird, 75 of Creston, Iowa, passed away Saturday, September 21, 2024 at Iowa Methodist Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa. Funeral Services are 11:00 A.M., Monday, September 30, 2024, at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center, Creston, Iowa, with Pastor Chuck Spindler officiating. Burial will be in Diagonal Cemetery, Diagonal, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family, to be established for Ronnie’s grandchildren’s education. Memories and on-line condolences may be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

Ronnie was a kidney transplant patient and was in the process of getting his body ready for another one. Ronnie was also a tissue donor. Ronnie was born in Creston to Otto and Opal (Tindle) Bird.

Ronnie attended Creston schools and graduated in 1969. Throughout Ronnie’s childhood, he and his twin brother Donnie were inseparable. Many people not being able to tell them apart, they often just went by the name of “Twin”. With their own made-up special language only those closet to them knew what they were saying and even that wasn’t a guarantee. From having each other’s back to beating each other up, Ronnie and Donnie were best friends. At a very young age, Ronnie started working construction and learning how to lay bricks with the help of his older brothers. Ronnie worked for Bonanza Buildings for many years. He worked and retired from Wellman Dynamics after 40 years of dedicated service.

In 1975 Ronnie married Patty (Fletcher) after walking into A & G Steakhouse and dating for six months. He knew Patty was his forever. Together they had 2 daughters, Buffy and Amy. Ronnie was their rock. He loved, supported, coached and stood beside them their entire life.

Ronnie had 4 grandchildren. Needless to say, they were his heart. Malaki Dean and Isaiah Wellington Bennett. Brooklyn Nell and Ashlyn Michelle Carter. Ronnie loved hard, but no words could express the “Papa” Ronnie was for them.

Ronnie touched many lives. If ya knew him, you were the lucky ones. From playing sports to coaching to handy man to roofer and everything in between, Ronnie was truly a one of a kind. A faithful and devoted husband, awesome dad and amazing Papa. He was just simply irreplaceable.

Left to cherish Ronnie’s memory is his wife, Patty; daughters: Buffy (Jesse) Carter of Kansas City, KS, and Amy Bird (Duke Bennett) of St. Joseph, MO; his four grandchildren: Malaki and Isaiah Bennett, Brooklyn and Ashlyn Carter; step-grandchildren: Lance Kelley and Maddie Carter; sisters-in-law: Peggy (Ted) Olsen and Bonnie Fletcher; brothers-in-law: Steve (Jolene) Fletcher, Rich and Tom Fletcher and Dale Magee; lifelong friend, Randy Hiatt and numerous nieces, nephews and family and friends.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents: Otto and Opal; identical twin, Donnie Gene, brothers: Otto Jr., Jerry (Frances), Danny Sr. (Cheryl), Larry and Ricky Bird; sisters: Betty Davis and Vicki (Joe) Connelly; father and mother-in-law: Everett and Alice Fletcher; brothers-in-law: Ed, John, Dave, Charles and Larry Fletcher; sisters-in-law: Karen Magee and Roxie Fletcher. 

In lieu of flowers the family is asking you to donate to Ronnie’s grandchildren’s secondary education fund.

Family request you wear Green Bay Packer, New York Yankees or favorite sports team to the service as Ronnie was a sports fanatic.