Ronald "Ron" Brenizer

Ronald M. Brenizer (Ron), 71, succumbed to cancer Wednesday, July 22, 2015. Ron was born December 4, 1943 to Cleo and Opal (Tull) Brenizer in Clarinda, but spent most of his youth farming in Lamoni.

At the age of 18 he met and married the love of his life, Sondra (Sandy) Penner. Together they went on to have four amazing children, Candace (Brian) Linville, M.Chris (Donny) Alford, Cindy (David) Raye, and Ron Jr. (Angela) Brenizer. His legacy includes not only his children and their spouses, but his 14 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and his ever present Shitzu, Petey.

Ron and Sandy spent 53 years together, over 45 of them in Norwalk, where Sandy still resides today. Ron was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Des Moines, and of the Knights of Columbus.

As a young man Ron went to work as a janitor. He moved up the ranks, eventually serving as Head of Operations for the then largest cleaning company in Central Iowa, Building Maintenance Services (BMS). He later partnered with several others to form Integra Services Corp., which rapidly took over the Des Moines commercial cleaning market. He went on to start up Boss Security, and later Brother’s Gutters.

Above all else however, Ron enjoyed time with his family and friends. It didn’t matter if they were camping, fishing, playing cards, or riding his Harley Davidson, it was the time together that was important. Even as adults the family would secure a block of adjoining campsites, each with their own gear, and camp together as an extended family, which often included whomever else wanted to come along.

Ron loved his family in a way seldom seen. He taught his children right from wrong, that to be respected was more important than being liked, to work hard, and above all, that loving people, truly loving them, family or not, meant doing what needed to be done, and saying what needed to be said, no matter how difficult. These weren’t just mantra’s, they were how he lived his life. Life isn’t about what is easy. It is about what matters.

Ron is survived by his wife, all 4 children, 14 grandchildren, and 11of his great-grandchildren, as well as his siblings, Karen Webb, Betty Perryman, Marilyn (Victor) Fenimore, Arnold (Penny) Brenizer, and Nancy (Doug) Stender. We are all confident Ron was met on arrival by his younger brother Gerald and great grandson Kingston, both deceased.

Visitation will be held Monday, July 27, 2015 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th St. in Des Moines. Services will be held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 28th at the funeral home. He will be laid to rest at Norwalk Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to Ron’s family.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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