Ramona Kersey of rural Grand Junction passed away peacefully on March 13, 2026, with her family by her side. Her life story includes meaningful years of love, faith, hard work and selflessness.
Ramona will be remembered with love by her family, including daughters Connie (Mick) Burkett, Linda (Tim) Tipton, Debra (Randy) Cooklin, and Jacalyn (Kevin) Ostrander; grandchildren Heather (Anthony) Lohse, Tony (Wendy) Burkett, Andrew (Paige) Burkett, Jaimi (Paul) Bird, Levi (Jennifer) Tipton, Kashia Cooklin, Stephanie (Nathan) Wedeking, Ryan Cooklin, Kris (Emily) Ostrander, Sara Ostrander (Justin Carter), and Reed (Emily) Ostrander;
and great-grandchildren Cody Burkett (Kristal Mercedes Mika), Mason Burkett (Eleanor Korum), Quinn (Cole) Barrett, Zoey Lohse, Libby Lohse, Josie Burkett (Nate Suddarth), Addie Burkett, Lily Burkett, McKenzie Burkett, Samantha Burkett, James Burkett, Dorothea Burkett, Maxwell Bird, Mitchell Bird, Liv Tipton, Ty Tipton, Charles Cooklin, Kersey Wedeking, George Wedeking, Ella Ostrander, Lincoln Ostrander, Tucker Ostrander, Florence Ostrander, and Reece Ostrander. She is also survived by brother in-law and sister in-law Donald (Janice) Kersey, JoAnn Kersey, many nieces, nephews, relatives and dear friends.
Ramona Jane Rhodes, daughter of William Elmer and Goldie Manilla Rhodes, was born June 21, 1930, and grew up in Bayard. She graduated from Bayard High School at the age of 16. After graduation, Ramona worked at the local telephone company. Ramona met Max in Coon Rapids while working at the local dance hall taking tickets. They fell in love and married at 8 am on an icy, wintry morning on Dec. 28, 1948, at the Bayard Catholic Church. A favorite memory is hearing her tell the story of being able to hear Max’s loud, souped-up car from quite a distance on his way to pick her up on a date back in the day. They shared a happily married life for 67 years, working together on the farm. Ramona’s life included being a busy farm wife and a great mom that Max and her daughters loved and praised. She was a master at keeping meticulous farm books, co-managing the farm operation, marketing crops, ordering feed and selling cattle, and running all sorts of errands so the farming operation could work efficiently. Ramona maintained a clean house (with some definite and regular chores for the girls), cooked delicious meals, and baked treats to be shared at dinner and supper time, and, of course, the lunch served to farm help was like another entire meal.
A strong woman of faith, Ramona taught CCD and was an active member of St Brigid Catholic Church in Grand Junction. She enjoyed her family and spending time with everyone, especially when she could see her grandchildren and their families, including the great-grandchildren. Ramona was always busy but never too busy to help with grandkids, help a friend, and attend her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s music, drama, and sports activities. She served as treasurer on the Iowa Cattlemen Women’s Association board for many years and together with Max loved being active in their Hawkeye Classic Thunderbird Club of Iowa car club, attending many events and car shows with friends.
Ramona loved to travel, especially spending winters in Mesa, AZ. She enjoyed following NASCAR racing, attended many races throughout the years, and could tell you many facts about her favorite drivers. A few of her favorite memories include boating at Twin Lakes and Lake Panorama, camping with family, including at the Iowa State Fair, neighborhood card parties, picnics, and family outings. She enjoyed reading in her spare time and was a good friend and mentor to many. Max and Ramona worked hard so they could enjoy life and make memories! Ramona was preceded in death by husband Max Kersey; infant daughter Judy Ann (1963); grandson Chan Burkett; parents Elmer and Goldie Rhodes and in-laws John and Elsie Kersey; brothers Gordon (Lois) Rhodes and Melvin Paul Rhodes; brothers in-law and sisters in-law Lloyd (Joyce) Kersey, Darrell Kersey, and Veva (Elden) Hansen.
