Dr. Ronald F. Baldwin

VINTON – Dr. Ronald F. Baldwin, 77, of Vinton, died Sunday, December 9, 2012, at his home in Vinton.
Public visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 12, 2012, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton. Private family services will be held Thursday, December 13, 2012. Interment will be in Maplewood Cemetery, Vinton.

Ron was born March 2, 1935, in Charles City, Iowa, the son of Fred M. and Irene L. White Baldwin.
Ron proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1957 until 1960 in the Army Security Agency.
Ron was employed by Vinton Community Schools as an educator for 30+ years, retiring in 1996. He also taught at Marble Rock School and Williamsburg Community Schools.
On August 28, 1965, Ron was united in marriage with Nancy Hays at Panther Creek Church in Adel, Iowa.
Ron was active in his community as a member of the Vinton Presbyterian Church; the Vinton Lion’s Club and VFW Post 8884 and Amvets Post 218. He was a volunteer at the Palace Theater and participated in activities with Dollars for Scholars, Act I, the Old Creamery Nature Trail and the Old Creamery Theater. He was on the Board at Systems Unlimited for 16 years and was also active at Camp Wyoming.
Ron is survived by his wife of 47 years, Nancy Baldwin, of Vinton; two sons: Kevin Baldwin of Williamsburg and Carter (Kris) Baldwin of North Liberty; one daughter, Andrea (Jay) Schwake of Solon; one brother, Richard (Patti) Baldwin of Jones, MI; two brothers-in-law, Ralph Cerwinske of Waterloo and Len Miller of Mission, TX; and 6 grandchildren: Lauran and Austin Schwake and Corey, Kayli, Cale and Carson Baldwin.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Joanne Miller and Betty Cerwinske.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established. Memorial funds will be used to establish a Dollars for Scholars scholarship for a student majoring in Elementary Education.
Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home of Vinton is caring for Ron and his family. Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.

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L&BAB December 10, 2012, 5:57 pm Nancy and family,
Larry and I are deeply saddened by the news of Ron\'s passing. He was a great friend and will be missed. You are in our prayers. Bev, Larry and Nich

JCN December 11, 2012, 1:05 am Ron was a wise and wonderful person, a terrific teacher and mentor to the youth of our community, and a talented actor whom audiences enjoyed onstage. I had the honor of knowing him through many ACT 1 productions. I will miss his positive spirit, and remember fondly all that he contributed to our community.

D(H December 11, 2012, 7:46 am Mr. Baldwin, as he will always be to me because he was a person to be respected as his character was one to follow. My sympathy to the family and close friends.

T(P December 11, 2012, 8:27 am My deepest sympathies to the family! What an wonderful man!

AW December 11, 2012, 10:57 am He was such a great guy! I\'ll always remember having him as a teacher! My thoughts and prayers are with the family and anyone affected by the passing of such a great person!!

SF December 11, 2012, 11:01 am Rip Dr. Baldwin. Prayers an my deepest sympathy to your family. You were a great teacher an role model.
Shanna Frickson

nl December 11, 2012, 11:20 am Dennis and I are so sorry to read about the passing of Ron. I know he will be missed by his family and many friends! We pray for peacea for all of his family..hoping that happy memories will be helpful at this time.

JB December 11, 2012, 1:03 pm He was a good teacher and fair along with a good man. He will be missed and so will his wisdom.

su December 11, 2012, 1:11 pm Dr. B will be missed very much by me. You were a great man.

MH December 11, 2012, 1:25 pm I had the pleasure of working with Ron as a board member and in many productions with ACT I of Benton County. Ron was a genuinely good and caring person, a willing volunteer, and a gentle soul. He will be dearly missed.

MaKD December 11, 2012, 1:35 pm Nancy and family. We were so sorry to hear of Ron\'s passing. He was a dear friend, as are all of you. Our hearts are sore and we wish to help in any way we can. Our love and sympathy.

CS December 11, 2012, 1:36 pm Our deepest sympathy to you and your family, Nancy. We have so many fond memories of Dr. Baldwin when he was our son\'s teacher,(especially teaching the class pig latin and then being willing to speak it with Seth for hours!). Ron was a kind, intuitive, creative teacher and a wonderful man to have known. He will be greatly missed.

T(V December 11, 2012, 3:21 pm I had Dr. Baldwin (Mr. Baldwin back then!)as my 5th grade teacher and he left many lasting impressions with me as a teacher. As I became an adult, he became a dear friend. I will always remember him with not just the utmost respect as a teacher, but with love and fondness as my friend. God now has another angel in his heavenly choir. My sympathies to Nancy and family.

AV December 11, 2012, 3:27 pm This is very hard to read. A finer example of gentlemanly class would be hard to find.

SA December 11, 2012, 8:30 pm I owe a great deal to Ron. He was one of the administrators who hired me when I came to Vinton. Later, he urged me to get involved with ACT I. Thirteen years ago, he brought me onto the board of the Old Creamery Theatre, and we served there together for several years, always sharing rides to Amana and enjoying good conversation. Ron was one of the founding members of ACT I, and it was he who gave the organization its name. Ron appeared in the very first ACT I show and many more after that, and remained a devoted patron even after he was no longer able to perform. One of the last shows he ever appeared in here was A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in 2001, in which he was an absolute delight. He will be sadly missed and always remembered.

MaRP December 11, 2012, 9:04 pm Nancy and Family,
I was so sad to hear about Ron\'s death. I think of him very fondly and all of the wonderful memories at Camp Wyoming Labor Day Camp. I smile as I write this thinking of Junior Bird Man flying up side down!! Our thoughts are with all of you during this difficult time and prayers for peace for all of you!

JaVZ December 11, 2012, 9:20 pm Ron will be missed - he gave us so much. He embodied the spirit of \"You Can\'t Take it With You,\" and he sure left a legacy behind. Our hearts go out to you, Nancy and family.

JW December 11, 2012, 11:03 pm Dr. Baldwin was my requested substitute when I couldn\'t be present to teach my French classes, etc. His previous years as a German teacher and his fun personality served him well. He was well loved and respected by the students and faculty. I chuckled at his opener: \"Good morninn, ladies and germs....\" He was a wonderful story teller and I always enjoyed our chats in the faculty room. My children were fortunate to have him as principal and they also remember him fondly. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Nancy, and your family.

MH December 12, 2012, 12:29 am I know both the Monday afternoon crew and the Tuesday night crew at the Palace are grieving the loss of one of our favorite staff members and volunteers. Ron always had a joke to tell - a weekly tradition we all looked forward to. Personally, I treasured our conversations. I learned so much from Ron, and so appreciated and already miss his warmth, intelligence and wicked sense of humor. My heart goes out to Nancy and the family he was so proud of. I will miss seeing photos and hearing stories of the grandchildren. God Bless.

JM December 12, 2012, 11:21 am We have great memories of working with and for Ron. He was a compassionate guy and he touched many lives. He always had a joke fit for any circumstance. (Never could understand how he could remember so many.) Ron\'s quick wit and humor made him fun to be around. He will be missed by many. Our prayers go out to Nancy, Andrea, Kevin and Carter and of course the grandchildren. He adored his family!
Jo Sainsbury and Jan McLeod

BB December 12, 2012, 2:26 pm My wife Cindy and I knew have known Ron and Nancy for quite some time. We especially enjoyed the times we spent with them at Camp Wyoming.
Ron was one of the kindest and generous men that I have known. We will miss him, but will never forget him. Ours hearts go out to our friend Nancy and her family. God Bless you.
-Brian & Cindy Beatty.

DM December 12, 2012, 5:29 pm Mr. Baldwin was one of my favorite teachers. A person remembers the great ones.

MB December 13, 2012, 3:14 pm What I remember and appreciate most was when I returned to Vinton, after teaching in Council Bluffs, he remembered my name. I was fortunate to work with him in the play A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum. We had some good chuckles when he was making his rounds.

Jb August 18, 2022, 8:11 pm I had Mr. Baldwin As my 5th grade teacher. He is really the only teacher I can remember. A kinder man I have never met and I am 72 years old

Obituaries : Dr. Ronald F. Baldwin

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