Ronnie Fox

Ronald Dean “Ronnie” Fox, 78, of Canton, passed away at 5:54pm on May 30, 2021, at his home.

He was born on October 26, 1942, in Keokuk, Iowa to Albert Lee “Fud” Fox, and Eva Pearl Taylor. Ronnie grew up with an intense dislike for school, and often took to hiding in the dump or eating poison ivy to avoid having to attend. Despite doing everything in his power to avoid classes, he still managed to make it to eighth grade before moving on to better things. Always an industrious young man, Ronnie managed to still deliver the papers on his route even after his pick-up truck quit by having several of his sisters push the vehicle while he finished his route. A joker from a young age, Ronnie once convinced his mother that there was someone hanging under the bridge near their home…Ronnie’s father “Fud” later discovered this was actually a pair of his new long johns and got after Ronnie for “ruining a perfectly good pair of drawers”. Despite his maverick nature, or perhaps because of it, Ronnie enlisted in the Army on June 14, 1960. He served overseas in Germany and France during the Vietnam era and was an excellent marksman and sharpshooter.  After serving his terms he was honorably discharged in April of 1966.

On December 11, 1965, Ronnie and Betsy Kay Cole were married (three hours later than planned) by a somewhat inebriated and rather tardy justice of the peace in Killeen, Texas. Their daughter Misty Kay “Wedgehead”,  was born, followed by a sister, Michelle Renee “Horsey”, and four brothers Ronald Dean Fox the II “Son” , Albert Lee “Albie” ,Scott Lee “Scotty” , and Owen Martin “Tiny”.

Ronnie had nicknames for everyone and was known for never calling anyone by their given name.  He was a truck driver by trade, eventually owning his own truck and contracting his services. He loved driving so much that after he retired, Ronnie took to driving the Amish families wherever they needed to go…often hundreds of miles.  It was a service he thoroughly enjoyed, and he made many, many friends along the way.

Ronnie was proud of his pontoon boat, and he loved to tell stories of the often-infamous adventures he could get into.  Ronnie loved to sing and whistle and collect old coins and money.  He was an enthusiastic fisherman and he loved to hunt and shoot.  Western movies and books were always a favorite and he enjoyed mowing his yard and working in his garden.  His next favorite pastime was making his kids work in his garden.  Ronnie also liked playing cards and was known to partake in a little bit of coffee in his creamer from time to time. Later in life he developed an affinity for YouTube videos and according to his grandkids “Paw-Paw” especially enjoyed Bluegabe and “Deer Meat for Dinner” At the time of his passing, Ronnie had been anxiously anticipating his trip to South Carolina to catch that yellow fin tuna and mahi mahi he had seen on his internet fishing shows. As he was often on the internet unattended, in addition to sport fishing vlogs, Ronnie discovered online shopping and managed to procure several questionable and perplexing purchases from Wish.com…which just made for more great stories.

Ronnie was predeceased by his wife Betsy Kay Fox after close to 47 years of marriage. His parents Albert Lee and Eva Pearl Fox; daughter Michelle Renee Fox-Christy, son Albert “Albie” Lee Fox; granddaughter September Gail; In-laws Bert Hodges, Dean and Betty Phillips; grandparents John and Nellie Taylor, Charles and Lulu Fox;; sisters Norma Roth, Orpha Decker, Dorothy Roth, and Sharon Seltzer; brother Marion Fox “Smokey”; daughter-in law Sherry Renee Powers; great-nephew Benjamin Wharton; nieces Terra Fox, and Mary Grant; sister-in law Jacquey Fox; brothers-in-law Rod Hellemeyer, Don Schrader, and Duff Ducker also precede him in death.

He is survived by one daughter, Misty Kay (Patrick “Stanley”) Schumacher of Canton, MO; three sons, Ronald Dean (Brandi) Fox II of Independence, IA, Scott Lee Fox (Sarah Stark) of Williamstown, MO and Owen Martin “Tiny” Fox (Sue Rodgers) of Canton, MO, brother Owen “Marty” Fox of Keokuk, IA, sisters Nellie Hellemeyer of Dallas City, IL, Joyce (Mike) Johnson of Montrose ,IA, Linda Schrader, also of Montrose , IA, and Gloria  (Bob) Dunn of Ft. Madison, IA.; son-in-law Terry Christy of Kahoka, MO., and Dean Seltzer ; brothers-in-law Eddie (Mary) Hodges, and Bobby Hodges (Jennifer Foster), ,

Ronnie also leaves 15 grandchildren, Trey “Purdy” Christy (Eternity Dunn), Heather “Maggie” (Josh) Magruder, Brittany ”Beanie”(Keith) Snyder, Cruze “Jimmy” (Madison) Fox, Ronald “Pud” Fox III, Scarlett “Lard” Fox, Jasmine “Jazzy” Fox, Jay Hightower and Nora Fox-Hightower, Zebulon “Zebco” Fox, Zerelda “Zee” Fox, Ebenezer “Ebber” Fox, Quintin Starks, Olivia, Faith, and Clifford Fox, and Chandler “Johnny” Schumacher; 10 great-grandchildren, Kaidance Fox, Clayton Snyder, Hayden Fox, Russell Magruder, Annabelle Fox, Riley Magruder, Owen Christy, Nora Fox, Remi Magruder, and baby Samson Fox, due in December, and Bryson Dunn. Ronnie also leaves to mourn many, many special nieces, and nephews, as well as countless friends who will miss him deeply. He is also survived by his constant canine companion George. PawPaw always said “Your brother George”

Funeral services honoring the life of Ronnie were conducted at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at the Wilson & Triplett Funeral Home in Kahoka. Pastor George LeMaster officiated. Visitation was held from 5:00 pm until 8:00pm at the Wilson & Triplett Funeral Home, Friday, June 4, 2021.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family. You are invited to share your memories of Ronnie and leave a condolence at www.wilsontriplett.com