Leroy Vernon Ropp

KALONA - Leroy Vernon Ropp, 92, of Kalona, Iowa died Wednesday, June 21, at his home at Country View in North Liberty. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at West Union Mennonite Church in rural Parnell on Saturday, June 24 at 10:30 am. Pastor Firman Gingerich will officiate. Burial will be in the West Union Cemetery. Visitation will at the Yoder Powell Funeral Home in Kalona on Friday, June 23, from 2-8 PM with the family present from 2-4 and 6-8. A memorial fund has been established for Care Initiatives Hospice and Bickford of Iowa City.

Leroy Ropp was born in rural Kalona on July 10, 1924, the son of Solomon C. and Vesta Ropp. He attended school at Kalona and Cosgrove. He served a year in CPS in Fort Collins, CO and Akron, PA, working as a kitchen chef. On June 3, 1947, he was united in marriage to Edith Gnagey. He farmed the homestead where Edith grew up in rural Johnson County, and also did carpentry work and sold Pacemaker Pole Buildings. In 1996, they retired to a new home in Kalona and enjoyed more time traveling, playing games, and spending their winters in Pharr, Texas with many friends.

Leroy is survived by two daughters, Ardith Hartzler of Wellman, Diana (Morris) Miller, of Riverside, and a son, Lamont (Luetta) Ropp, of Wellman; 3 grandchildren, Shawna (Tim) Crile, Christian Miller, and Elizabeth Miller; 2 great-grandsons, Tyler and Reece Crile; 2 step- grandsons Mason & Dylan Brown; close family friends Les & Marina, Isabelle and Vanessa Miller, and 5 siblings - Emil (Erma) Ropp, Cora (Levi) Miller, Morris (Norma) Ropp, Paul (Marlene) Ropp, and Norma (Harley) Nisly. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Edith in 2015; son Glenn Merlin Ropp, daughter Shirleen Ropp, and son-in law Turner Brown; and 5 siblings - Herman, John, and Wesley Ropp, Anna Mae Miller, and Cleora Yoder.