Ronald Eugene Cross was born in Mount Ayr, IA to Ames R. and Elberta R. (McKinstry) Cross on November 24, 1939, and passed away at age 86 on August 15, 2026.
Ron graduated from Mount Ayr Public High School and attended Northwest Missouri State where he received a Bachelor of Science in Education. Following graduation in 1962, he joined Arthur Andersen & Co., in Kansas City, Missouri, as a Public Accountant.
In 1967, Ron moved his family of five, to Urbandale when he became a Controller with General Management (General Growth) and later with Iowa Realty. In 1974 he became self-employed first, starting a motel and restaurant management company and later becoming a Commercial Real Estate Agent for Iowa Realty.
In 1981, Ron launched The Cross Corporation, his own commercial real estate brokerage firm, which he successfully operated for 37 years. He also owned and invested in an auto dealership, a telephone system company, and an athletic scoreboard manufacturing operation in Oklahoma.
Ron was a leader in civic activities including the Urbandale Board of Adjustment, Urbandale Chamber of Commerce, Polk-Des Moines Taxpayers Assn., Polk County Condemnation Compensation Commission, the Greater DM Chamber, Urbandale Lions Club, The Greater DM Hockey Assn and the Ice Sports Assn that formed the DM Buccaneers. However, he was most proud of serving on the Urbandale 4th of July planning committee for 22 years and in 1993 he was selected as The Urbandale Citizen of the Year.
He enjoyed playing tennis, watching the NY Rangers, Chicago Cubs, KC Chiefs and grandchildren’s events. When he was younger, he raced stock cars and raised and showed Dutch rabbits, where he won many trophies and ribbons.
Ron never forgot a name and was known for his keen sense of humor and sharp mind. Ron was a dedicated and loyal friend and was blessed with many long-term friendships. Ron will be remembered as a man who truly understood the value of community and showing up for the people he loved.
Survivors include son Jeffrey of West Des Moines, children Ames (Mallory), Ashton, Amelia (Matt) Vogl and Abigail, son Scott (Kris) child Paulina of Lee’s Summit, MO and daughter Jennifer (Dave) DeCarlo, children Colby (Sonya) DeCarlo, Ronni (Jevon) Mason and Brock; seven great grandchildren, Bennet, Braxson, Bodee (Cross), Callahan, Cohen, Cai (Vogl) and Nora (DeCarlo); mother of his three children, Janice (Skinner) Cross of West Des Moines; brother Al Cross of Urbandale, sister-in-law Pam Cross of Mount Ayr; and four nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents Ames & Elberta and brother Mac Cross.
A visitation was held at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr on Sunday, August 23, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. with a graveside service beginning at 2 p.m. in Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr. Ron’s casketbearers were Ames Cross, Ashton Cross, Colby DeCarlo, Brock DeCarlo, Matt Vogl, and Jevon Mason. A reception followed at the Ringgold County Outdoor Alliance Building. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the Urbandale Iowa 4th of July Committee, Inc. A celebration of life will be held in Urbandale, Iowa at a later date to be determined.
