Ruth Reckling (1924-2020)

RECKLING, JAMES

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 12/24/2020 at 13:59:20

Ruth Reckling passed away on December 21, 2020. Ruth Ellen James was born September 4, 1924, on a rural farm near Western, Nebraska. The youngest daughter of Frank and Elsie James, she joined two siblings Howard and Ruby. After high school graduation, she worked a variety of jobs including a cornmeal packer at Crete Mills in Crete, Nebraska, a waitress in a restaurant, and a nurse’s aide at several hospitals.
In 1945, she met Milt Reckling and they were married in 1947, when he returned from his tour of duty with the U.S. Army in the Philippines. In 1956, they moved to Iowa to farm near Olin. They raised four children; in 1968 they moved to Mount Vernon and Ruth worked at Cornell College until the birth of their fifth child. At that time Ruth opened a daycare in her home so she could be home with their son, Chad.
She enjoyed caring for other children as well as her son and during her 19 years as a daycare provider she saved several children’s lives. Christmas with her family, grandchildren and great grandchildren were always special times for Ruth. She also had special Christmas parties for her day care children with gifts for all.
Milt and Ruth bought and repaired Model A’s and were members of the Model A Club of Cedar Rapids. They also enjoyed many hours of dancing with Kenny Hofer and playing Euchre with their friends.
Ruth was a member of the Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, American Legion Auxiliary and sewed many lap robes for veterans, at the Vets Hospital in Iowa City. She sold many poppies each spring, and the money was used to buy gifts for veterans in the VA hospital.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Milt; brother, Howard James; sister, Marie; sister, Ruby and Harold Zabel; daughter-in-law, Marie Reckling; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-laws, Bob and Edna Reckling and Don and Elaine Reckling.
Ruth is survived by her five children, Max and Dianne Reckling, of Des Moines, Cindy and Mike Montgomery, Bruce and Denise Reckling, Ty and Ruthie Reckling, all of Mount Vernon and Chad and Theresa Reckling of West Burlington, Iowa.
Ruth and Milt are survived by 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren (including two sets of twins).
Private services held at a later date at Iowa Veterans Cemetery at Adel, Iowa
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.