Ronald D. Sissel, 63, of Davenport, died Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 6:00 pm at The Runge Mortuary. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until the service at the mortuary. Cremation rites were accorded. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to his granddaughters, Layken and Peyton Bytnar in care of Dick Jensen for their future needs. Online condolences may be left at www.therungemortuary.com.
Ron was born January 1, 1947, being the first baby born in the Quad Cities that year, to Gilbert and Evelyn (Muhs) Sissel. He graduated from West High School in 1965 and served in the US Army during the Vietnam War. He then graduated from the University of Iowa in 1972 and married his first wife, Judith Johnston in 1972, the mother of his son, Mark.
Ron went to work for Sears Roebuck in management in Rochester, MN. After graduating, he worked as a salesman for Great Western Supply in Davenport for many years. He bought the Davenport Crockery, a tavern supply company and also started Party Plus, a retail party store and operated it for many years. He began Sissel Construction, a re-modeling company and operated it until his retirement. He was a member of the Davenport Jaycees and was a current member of the Davenport Elks Lodge #298. Through the Jaycees, he was elected to the Miss Iowa Pageant Board of Directors serving in several positions and judging many local pageants in Iowa, Illinois and Oklahoma. He also attended the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City for five years.
Ron married his second wife, Char Jensen in 1993.
Those left to honor his memory include his son, Mark Sissel and his fiancé, Jen Westerhof, Davenport along with their daughter due in December, Mark’s mother, Judith Johnston, Arizona, stepchildren: Sara Bytnar and Scott Jensen, both of Davenport and their mother, Char Sissel, Bettendorf, twin granddaughters, Layken and Peyton Bytnar, Davenport, their father, Bobby Bytnar, Davenport, brothers: Don (Vicky) Sissel, Davenport and Kevin Sissel, Bettendorf, sister, Barb Martens and her fiancé, Tom Dohrn, Davenport and a family friend, Delores Brown, Davenport. His parents preceded him in death.
Ron loved to work and keep busy at all times; especially enjoying golf with his buddies and will miss taking their money every Sunday. Prior to his getting ill, the best time of his life was being around his granddaughters and watching them grow into the smart and fun-loving little ladies that they have become – his hope was that he would be a guardian angel to them from above.
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