Visitation Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Ohde Funeral Home, Manning
Visitation will resume at 9:30 AM on Thursday at the church
Funeral Service on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Manning
Pastor Jonathan Conner, Officiating
Congregational Hymn "The Old Rugged Cross" Timothy Conner, Organist
Casket Bearers are Curtis Reiter, John Grundmeier, Craig Grundmeier, Damon Ellsworth, Russell Reiter, and Chad Ellsworth
Interment at Manning Cemetery, Manning
Military Honors by United States Marine Corps Honor Guard, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3517 and American Legion Post 22

Ronald Schilling, age 84, of Manning, died Friday, August 13, 2021, at Accura Healthcare of Manning. Funeral service is 10:30 AM on Thursday, August 19, 2021, at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning with interment in the Manning Cemetery. Visitation is from 5 PM to 7 PM on Wednesday, August. 18, 2021, at Ohde Funeral Home in Manning, and will resume one hour before the service on the Thursday at the church.

Ronald Henry Schilling was born April 26, 1937, at the family home in Aspinwall, Iowa. He was the 5th son of John and Emma (Schroeder) Schilling and delighted in telling people that his parents decided to have no more children once they created perfection. Ron attended school in Aspinwall and graduated from the 8th grade. He could still remember the names of all his teachers, but one was always special to him; Dorothy (Ehrichs) Kusel. He said she was the best. After 8th grade his father said play time was over and it was time to get to work. The Schilling boys learned carpentry, early, from their father, helping him build barns, houses and doing general repairs. Ron also hired out to area farmers like Ivan Genzen and Walt Dammann during planting and harvest season and drove truck for Ed Hinners. He even worked as a clerk at Frank Ehrichs' grocery store which he quickly learned was not a profession for him!

On June 12, 1956, Ron enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served overseas in Japan and Okinawa for 14 months. PFC Schilling was honorably discharged June 12, 1962. He was so proud to have served his country as a United States Marine. Ron was a Life Member of Manning VFW Post 3517 and served on the Ceremonial team for many years. He received his 60-year membership pin in 2017.

After his military discharge, Ron drove truck for Wayne Schroeder and Ramsey Transfer in Manning, worked for Modern Gas Company for 8 years, the Manning Creamery for 2 years, drove truck for Bud Friedman for 5 years and in 1975 began working at the Aspinwall Coop. Ron retired from the Coop in 1999 after 24 years. After retirement, his love for carpentry returned and he began creating things in his shop. He built a miniature farm place around the farm pond, trying to construct one building per year and even added a little church which he was very proud of. His last project was a playhouse for the grandchildren that featured a winding staircase that ended on a second floor. Ron also served for a few years as a member of Manning's Fire Department and on the Aspinwall City Council.

Ron met Susan Grundmeier in Aspinwall after Ron returned from the service and the Grundmeier family had moved into Aspinwall. They lived across the street from each other and it took considerable time before either of them knew the other existed. It was not love at first sight! But, eventually, feelings changed and on April 12, 1964, they were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning by Pastor G. Hattendorf. Ron was baptized and confirmed at Zion by Pastor Edward Heinicke on May 2, 1965. They were blessed with 3 children who grew up in the little town and in 1991 the family moved to Denny Kasparbauer's acreage 3 miles northwest of Aspinwall.

In 2019, because of Ron's health, Ron and Susie made the decision to move into Manning. Ron passed away at Accura Healthcare on August 13, 2021, at the age of 84 years.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents John and Emma Schilling; 4 brothers: Alvin, Robert, Roy, and Dewey Schilling: his in-laws Sal and Evelyn Grundmeier; 4 brothers-in-law: Ed Reiter, Joel Grundmeier, David Grundmeier and Ron Ellsworth; and a very special Aunt, Amanda Clausen.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years Susan Schilling; children: David and his wife Linda of Huxley, Mary St. Clair and her husband Mike of Ankeny and Christian and his wife Bridgette of Templeton; 5 Grandchildren: Kyle and Brandon Schilling and Emma, Maya and Evan St. Clair; Sister-in-laws: Joan Reiter of Dunkerton, Peggy Ellsworth of Corley, Bev Grundmeier of Manning, Alice Grundmeier of Des Moines and Helen Schilling of Yuma, Arizona; Brother-in-law, Mark Grundmeier and wife Jen of Belmond; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.