Ronald Edward Borton

Ron was born March 19th, 1958 in Marshalltown, Iowa to Donald (Dick) and Mary (Dutton) Borton. He graduated from Le Grand, Dunbar, Ferguson (LDF) High School in Le Grand, Iowa in 1976. After graduation, Ron enlisted in the U.S. Army, and was assigned to Ft. Bliss, Texas, Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana and Ft. McClellan, Alabama. He served the majority of his career overseas in Kaiserslautern, Hanau, and Frankfurt Germany.

Ron was initially trained in the U.S. Army as a cook, but, he often said that on a 30 day REFORGER (return of forces to Germany) he found he was not crazy about getting up at 1:00 am to move the mess tent and start preparing breakfast by 3:00 am. He chose to be retrained as a Legal Specialist. He served as the brigade legal Non Commissioned Officer advising the Commander of the 94th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and prepared units for Inspector General Inspections. He also worked in both the Hanau Legal Center and the 3rd Armored Division Legal Center where he was often recognized for being an expert. Among other things he worked on prosecutorial matters for soldiers under the jurisdiction of the 3rd Armored Division Commanding General who served as the Court Martial Convening Authority. Sergeant Ron Borton was soon appointed as the NCO in charge of the Hanau Trial Defense Service office, working defense instead of prosecution. He found that he was well suited to the legal field because of his ability to research and investigate facts. During his enlistment, he continued his education by attending classes at the University of Maryland, European Division. Ron married the love of his life Christine Hallinen, on December 3rd, 1982, while they both lived and served in the 94th Brigade in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Following his military career Ron returned to Iowa where he worked briefly for the Jasper County attorney before the attorney left the practice. For the next seven years, Ron was a professional driver and drove over the road for several companies, covering 47 of the lower 48 states in about a year and a half while driving for one of them. He was a quick study and soon had student drivers in the truck with him before becoming too ill to continue working.

Ron was a lifetime member of the American Legion belonging to posts in Toledo and Bondurant, Iowa. In 2003-2004 he served with Christine as 3rd District Officers for the 10 county area with nearly 7,000 members. Ron was a baseball fan to his core, he had a love of the game that was evident in his involvement throughout his life. His father led the installation of the first ball fields in Ferguson, Iowa in the 1960’s, he pitched for LDF in high school, coached Pee Wee ball and continued to play on intramural teams after he joined the Army. He was very knowledgeable about Military Equipment; munitions, ordnance, tanks, tracks, aircraft and naval vessels and often enjoyed spirited discussions with friends and family. Serving in Germany before, during and after the fall of the Berlin Wall and seeing first-hand the effects of communism and socialism reinforced his political opinion. He was always up for a political discussion, either U.S. or world-wide and seldom wavered in what he believed was best for the people of America.

Ron was a member of the South Central Iowa Draft Horse Association. Ron and Christine shared a mutual interest in Draft Horses, he would often plan winter sleigh rides for family and friends and reminisced of the first sleigh ride he enjoyed with Christine in Davos, Switzerland.

Since moving to Ankeny in 2006, Ron was known as the neighborhood watch-person spending countless hours visiting with both children and adults, making a point to welcome new neighbors and organizing block parties. There was always a fire at his place to make s’mores or just for an evening lawn chair chat with friends. He, like many people, also enjoyed a good round of golf.

Ron will be missed dearly by his loving wife of nearly 34 years; Christine Borton, sister; Elisabeth (Antoni) Polkiewicz, of Marshalltown, Iowa, sister-in-law; Carrol Borton, of Grove, Oklahoma, his nieces and nephews, Christine’s family and his many neighbors and friends.

Ronald Borton was preceded in death by his parents; Donald and Mary Borton, of Ferguson, Iowa, brother; Wendell Borton, of Grove, Oklahoma and a nephew; Scott Borton, of Bernice, Oklahoma.

Memorial Contributions may be directed to the family.

Online condolences and thoughtful memories can be shared on Ron’s page at www.ankenyfuneralhome.com