Ronald Mcdaniel

Ronald Duane McDaniel, 76, a resident of Riverdale, Iowa died Friday, November 19, 2010 at his home.

Memorial services will be held at 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home, Bettendorf, Iowa. A Memorial visitation will be held from 3:00 P.M. till the time of service Tuesday. Memorials may be made to National Public Radio, the Iowa Chapter of Nature Conservancy, Riverdale EMS or the Bettendorf Public Library.

Ron was born February 19, 1934 in Rock Island, Illinois the son of Charles and Dorothy (Knauel) McDaniel. He was united in marriage to Rosalee DeWulf on April 16, 1979.

When Ron was young he became involved in the barge industry in the Joliet, Illinois area. After a four year stint in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict he returned to the river. He did his last towboat trip in 1968 after journeying over five thousand miles on multiple waterways. A wanderer by heart, Ron began driving for United Parcel Service in 1973 retiring in 1998.

Ron was a member of the Board of Adjustments in Riverdale and a tutor at Scott Community College.

He was a wordsmith, poet and master of the English language. He was a ferocious reader on a constant quest for knowledge and enlightenment. He enjoyed sailing, motor cycles, bicycling, gardening and touring historical sites in a motor home. He was a very caring man and loving husband.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Rosalee; his brothers Rick (Vicky) McDaniel, Fair Play, Colorado and Paul (Gayle) McDaniel, Minooka, Illinois; his step-daughters Kathy (Edward) Davies, McGregor, Iowa and Dr. Shelley (Dr. Patrick Lantz) Kreiter, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; his step-sons, Russell (Janet) Kreiter, Iowa City, Iowa and Jon (Kathy) Kreiter, West Branch, Iowa and numerous step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Charles; his sisters, Rhonda and Donna and his step-children, Steven Kreiter and Nancy Kreiter.