Rodney Wayne Ives passed away quietly in his home on Friday, March 6, 2020 in Freeport, Illinois with his wife present.

He was born in Duluth, Minnesota on December 19, 1942, the son of Earl Sterling and Grace Ellen (Gerard) Ives. He was raised in the country about 35 miles from town. He was the fourth of eleven children. He graduated from Clover Valley High School in Two Harbors, Minnesota.

He served in the United States Navy from 1960-1966. He was a Vietnam Vet and participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

He was a long-time resident of Rockford, Illinois. He worked at Atwood for several years. He also worked as an auto repairman and RV technician. He retired driving truck doing construction work.

He married Eva May (Nelson) Stearns on December 21, 2004 in Rockford, Illinois. He was an avid fishernan and after retiring, he and his wife moved to DeSoto and later Genoa, Wisconsin where they spent many hours fishing in the Mississippi River, only recently moving to Freeport, IL due to his poor health where they could be closer to family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Gordon and Richard and three sisters, Roberta Johnson, Carolyn Gellerstedt, and Laurel Miller.

He is survived by his wife, Eva. Two daughters from a previous marriage Sherri Kennington and Shelli Feather, and son Dakota Ives; three step-sons, Troy Stearns, Tray Stearns, and Brandon Stearns; three sisters, Patsy Wallace, Sharon Kearns, and Bonnie Polling; and two brothers, Tom Ives and Tim Ives. Also, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

No services will be held at this time.