Funeral Leaflet

(photo)

Ruth was the youngest of eight children and a child of the 1930s depression era. Her parents, Isadore and Margaret Brenner, were immigrants from Germany and Luxembourg who were strong in their Catholic faith. She grew up with a lot of love and laughter with her brothers and sisters on their Danbury, Iowa farm, although there was not a lot of money. Her father struggled at times to find a nickel to buy school supplies. Her clothes were hand-me-downs, and often she wore shoes that were too small.

She met her husband-to-be, Earle, in her high school years, although the Brenner and Martin families had known each other for a while. Earle’s grandfather and Ruth’s father had met earlier in 1894 on a ship sailing to the US from Germany. Her father at that time was 15 and immigrating by himself.

They married in 1945, after Ruth spent some time in California working on the WWII effort. She helped build military radios.

She had a strong faith, especially honoring the Virgin Mary in her prayers. She and her husband Joseph were faithful supporters of St. Joseph Church. They were one of the first to recommend that the church remove the family/donor plaques on the church pews and open seating to all. Her faith helped her persevere through personal family losses and two instances of cancer.

She was a hard worker, and an amazing cook. She always had large gardens and raised a lot of vegetables for our meals, as well as doing other farm work. We remember the wonderful cobblers, pies and rolls she used to make and was so proud of.

She was always busy. In the early years on the farm, she did a lot of the field work and drove grain trucks. She raised countless chickens through the years plus sold eggs.

She was smart and resourceful. She took care of the bookkeeping and ensured the farm business ran well, often suggesting new directions for the future. And she was a saver, helping to pay off farm mortgages and assuring their family’s future.

She had a great sense of humor, and loved to host family dinners and picnics. Anyone who came to the door was invited in for coffee and dessert or a full meal if it was meal time. She loved watermelon seed fights and often participated in her grandchildren’s water gun battles.

She loved her husband and her family and friends. She was with her husband practically every day, through 59 years of marriage.

She loved her three children (Tom, Jana and Holly) unconditionally and was extremely proud of them. She was always a champion for them and their families in school or in life. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed their visits or phone calls. Her grandchildren taught her how to FaceTime and email in her later years and that helped her stay in touch and learn about her family’s adventures.

She was always well liked at the facilities in which she lived in later years. She was kind and friendly to all of the residents and had many friends. Other residents sought to sit at her table at meals.

In an interview last year, she was asked what advice she would give to family and friends and she said, “Be good to your kids, love hard, work hard, be honest, save money and have friends.”

In Memory of Ruth C. Martin, Green Bay, Wisconsin, Formerly of Sloan, Iowa.

Date of Birth: March 8, 1923 Danbury, Iowa; Date of Death: January 14, 2018 Green Bay, Wisconsin

Rosary 9:30 A.M. Saturday, July 21, 2018 St. Joseph Catholic Church, Salix, Iowa. Funeral Mass 10:00 A.M. Saturday, July 21, 2018 St. Joseph Catholic Church, Salix, Iowa. Officiating: Father Michael Erpelding- Celebrant; Olivia May-Lector; Michael May- Eucharistic Minister; Rob May and Thomas Unitan-Presenters of Gifts; Caroline Martin and Gabriella Unita-Cantors; Chrissy Martinez-Organist.

Musical Selections: “How Can I Keep From Singing” #442-Gathering Song; “Shepherd Me O God” #459 – Responsorial Psalm; “Prayer Of St. Francis” #523-Preparation of Gifts; “You Are Near” #435 -Communion; “May Holy Angels Lead You”-Final Commendation; “On Eagle’s Wings” #437-Closing Song

Interment: St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery, Salix, Iowa.

Arrangements by Rush Family Care Service, Onawa, Iowa

Thank you for joining us to celebrate our Mother’s life. We would be pleased if you would join us at the adjacent church resource center for lunch, a memorial slide presentation, and fellowship following the committal service—Ruth’s Family

~~~Funeral leaflet courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Find A Grave Memorial#191153402