Ruth Marie Kerns

KERNS, MCGRANE, MENKE, MICHELS, MILBACH, WEBER

Posted By: Cindy Marshall (email)
Date: 12/2/2021 at 18:49:08

Ruth Marie Kerns, age 94, of Fairbank passed away July 2, 2019 at Mercy One Medical Center of Oelwein. She was born September 16, 1924 on the family farm east of Hazleton, the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Weber) Michels. Ruth attended and graduated from the Stanley School. After high school she enrolled at the Waterloo School of Beauty Culture in Waterloo, Iowa. Ruth worked as a beautician at Miller’s Beauty Shop in Oelwein, Eve’s Beauty Shop as well as a beauty shop that was located directly behind the barber shop on Main Street Fairbank where you actually had to walk through the barber shop to get to the beauty shop. Ruth also worked in the kitchen at Oelwein Care Center for a period of time. She married Robert Kerns July 3, 1945 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hazleton.

Ruth was a devout Catholic going to church daily when possible otherwise praying the rosary. Ruth loved spending time with her family. She especially enjoyed celebrating family birthdays and she made sure that they had a decorated cake to make the occasion special. Everyone received a birthday card with a reminder to check their drivers license expiration date. Ruth was able to keep her beautician skills sharp by giving family members perms and haircuts. She loved her flowers, flower beds and mowing her yard.

Ruth also enjoyed playing cards, card club and hosting family gatherings. She was loved and will be missed by her family and friends.

Ruth is survived by her two daughters; Sharon(Jim)Menke of Cedar Rapids and Janet(Terry)McGrane of Fairbank, three sons; James(Judy)Kerns of Waterloo, Joseph (Mary Kay)Kerns of Johnston and Jerald(Sue)Kerns of Evansdale, 13 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers; John Michels and her twin, Robert Michels, three sisters; Christina Brady, Kathryn Miller and Mary Elizabeth Milbach along with their spouses.

Funeral Mass: 10:30 am, Monday July 8, 2019 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fairbank.

Visitation: 4:00-7:00 pm, Sunday July 7 at Woods Funeral Home, Fairbank.

Parish Rosary: 3:45 pm, Sunday July 7 at Woods Funeral Home.

Interment: Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials: to the family for later designation.