Ronna Lea (Abel) Jones-Peterson, 78, passed away at Bethany Life in Story City.

Memorial services for Ronna will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Gilbert Lutheran Church, 135 School Street, in Gilbert, with Pastor Christian Johnson officiating. Private family graveside services will take place at a future date.
Visitation for Ronna will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 PM on Friday, May 16, 2025, also at Gilbert Lutheran Church.

Ronna Lea Abel was born September 6, 1946, to Rex and Frances (Lindsay) Abel on the family farm in rural Hedrick, Iowa. She was raised and educated in Hedrick and graduated as Hedrick High School Valedictorian with the Class of 1964.

Following high school, Ronna attended Northeast Missouri State Teachers College, now known as Truman State University, in Kirksville, Missouri, graduating with her teachers certification 3 years later. She taught high school business courses for a time before marrying Allen Jones. The young couple made their home in Michigan while Allen served in the United States Air Force. To this union, children Todd and Traci were born.

Ronna later returned to southeast Iowa, where she worked several manufacturing jobs, including Chain and Cable, Bridge Crane, and at Motorola in Mount Pleasant before beginning her career at Story Construction in 1983. During this time, she met Rodney Peterson, the couple married in 1987, blending the family with Rod's children, Jeremy and Shelly.

Ronna worked as a certified seed analyst at the Seed Science Center at Iowa State University for 25 plus years. She and Rod lived in Nevada and later in Ankeny, while commuting between home and work. The couple made their home in rural Boone for the past several years.

Ronna had a lifelong love of travel. She had visited each of the lower 48 states before she graduated from high school, and she and Rod eventually added Alaska and Hawaii to their list, along with more than 30 countries around the world, along with a group of couples and friends who they enjoyed traveling with.

Ronna was baptized and raised Methodist, converting to the Lutheran church when she married Rod. Regardless of whether she attended church, or which one, Ronna was a lifelong believer.

Ronna was committed to working hard, instilling this trait in others and she enjoyed all the adventures associated with family events, activities and athletics. She became well known for her frosted sugar cookies, as she and Rod made tens of dozens for family and friends to enjoy.

Ronna is survived by her husband, Rodney Peterson; children Todd (fiancé Leanna Lindenman) Jones of Ankeny and Traci (Jim) Cunningham of Council Bluffs; Rod's children: Jeremy (Molly Rose) Peterson of Tiffin and Shelly Day of Greenfield; grandchildren: Calea Jones, Kellen Jones, Kyler Jones, Lauren Lindley, Logan Lindley, Levi Peterson, Jacob Peterson and Grace Day; along with numerous other family members and friends.

Ronna was preceded in death by her parents, her grandparents, and her brother, Roger Abel.

In lieu of flowers and other customary remembrances, Ronna's family suggests that memorial contributions may be directed towards Memorials to Households of Bethany at Bethany Life  Story City, and sent to the family's attention, care of Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa, 50010.

www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com