Gene A. "Geno" Ronnfeldt

Gene A. Ronnfeldt “Geno," age 75, of Maquoketa, Iowa, previously of Miles, Iowa, passed away Monday, December 12, 2022, at Timber City Wellness and Rehab (formerly known as Crestridge Care Center, Maquoketa). A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m., on Monday, December 19, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Preston, Iowa. Burial will be in the Miles Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to Mass, from 9 to 10:45 a.m.

Geno was born November 1,1947, in Clinton, Iowa, the son of Arnold and Jeannette (Eggert) Ronnfeldt. He grew up in Miles. Due to his special needs and the unavailability of appropriate public education at the time, he was fully integrated into the Miles elementary, middle and high school system alongside his brother Gary. He moved on to work for the railroad in Green Island, graduated from Glenwood State Hospital School of Management Development Training, worked at McEleaney Motors in Clinton and later commuted from his parents’ home in Miles to start piece work and training at DAC in Maquoketa in 1976. He moved from Miles to a group home in 1977 and then transitioned to independent living in Maquoketa in 1980.

In 1989, Geno moved into the Imperial Apartments in Maquoketa where he met Kathleen Boyle. They were life partners until she passed in 2003. DAC prepared Geno for community work as a custodian at McDonald’s where he stayed until he retired.

Geno loved Maquoketa and spent his days walking to each of his favorite spots and restaurants to visit and discuss his beloved St. Louis Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and Iowa Hawkeyes. He had a great smile and a kind soul. He loved his family and getting updates on the lives of his nieces, great-niece and nephews. He spent his final seven months in the caring hands of Timber City/Crestridge.

Geno will be dearly missed by his brother, Gary Ronnfeldt of Miles IA; his sister, Mary (Robert) Arendarczyk of Huntley, IL; three nieces, Michele, Kristina, and Jessica; one great-niece, Allison; and three great-nephews, Nicholas, Jacob, and Jayce. Geno is preceded in death by both parents, his life partner and youngest brother.