White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

INDEPENDENCE – Ronald D. Pierce, 89, of Independence, IA, died Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at UnityPoint – St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA, following a sudden illness.

Memorial Services will be 11:00 a.m. - Monday, July 28, 2025, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence, IA. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until service, Monday, at the church.

Memorials may be directed to the church.

Ron was born June 16, 1936, in Cushing, OK, the son of Charles Ross and Faye (Cullison) Pierce. He attended school in Cushing and graduated from Cushing High School with the class of 1954. Ron continued his education and was among the very first graduates from Oklahoma A&M’s Associate Degree in Radio and Electronics program. Within a few months, the school became Oklahoma State University. He started an engineering career with the Boeing Corporation in Seattle, WA, before being transferred to the Vandenberg Air Force base near Lompoc, CA. While in California, he met Judith Lee Hillier, and they were united in marriage on October 19, 1963, in Torrance, CA. Ron’s career took them to Missouri before the couple decided to move to Iowa, Judy’s home state, to raise their children. Ron began working for Iowa Public Television as a station engineer and they made their home in Waverly, IA, and Osage, IA, before moving to Independence. Ron retired in 2001 after 25 years with IPTV.

Ron loved his family and especially enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow. He was integral in the development of the Buchanan County emergency communication network, and he was an amateur radio enthusiast, reaching the highest level of HAM Radio licensure. He was an avid reader, a member of the writing club in Independence, and for 30 years, he would work on and complete the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle with his daughter Robyn. He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence.

Ron is survived by his wife of 61 years, Judy of Independence, IA; two daughters, Robyn Kazianka of Iron Mountain, MI, and Rhonda (Donald) McBain of Mt. Horeb, WI; two sons, Ryan (Kimberly) Pierce of Streator, IL, and Rodney (Alona) Pierce of North Liberty, IA; seven grandchildren, Ray, Colin, Carter, Abby, Katherine, Ryne and Ryder; one brother, Jerry (Kimberly) McFarland of Lincoln, NE; one sister, Barbara Henderson of Versailles, MO; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Charles Pierce; a son-in-law, Keith Kazianka; and a brother-in-law, Larry Henderson.

Condolences may be placed at www.White-MtHope.com.
White Funeral Home, Independence, IA is in charge of arrangements.