Gretta “Ruth” Cornell (2022)

CARTER, CORNELL, DOONAN, GRIPP

Posted By: Shirley Keating
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:03:12

Kale Funeral Home
Osceola, Iowa

Gretta “Ruth” Cornell

Gretta “Ruth” Cornell was born on August 23, 1926 to Dewey Cornell and Lavenia (Gripp) Cornell, at their home (The IGO Ranch) in Warren County, Iowa. She joined her twin brothers, Lavere and Lavon, who were five years older. Ten years later, her sister, Ardys was born to their family.

While growing up on the farm, Ruth always enjoyed her pets, mostly dogs. She rode her horse, Dick, to the Mount Tabor country school from first grade through third grade, until her family moved to a farm just one mile east of New Virginia, Iowa. From then on, she walked to the town school in New Virginia, where she graduated in 1944. While in high school she played the clarinet in the band and she also played forward in 6-on-6 girls basketball, which was popular at the time.

Following high school graduation, Ruth moved to Des Moines and attended AIB Business College, where she graduated with a degree in accounting. She used her business and accounting skills in various businesses including a construction company, Wulkan Insurance Agency, and Mobil Oil Company. Most of her career in business was spent at Onan Corporation in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she worked as an executive secretary, retiring at the age of sixty eight.

Living in Minnesota for many years, Ruth enjoyed many lake activities. She and a group of friends rented a cabin yearly on Sylvan Lake, spending every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day, swimming, boating, and canoeing.

In 1996, Ruth sold her home and moved with her beloved dog to The Village Retirement Community in Indianola, Iowa. Her sense of humor and quick wit made her a favorite among staff and residents. This move also brought her closer to extended family, particularly close to her sister, Ardys. They spent many days together browsing the small shops around the courthouse square in Winterset, Iowa, near Ardys and her husband, Ken Carter’s farm home on the edge of Truro, Iowa. Always a stylish dresser, Ruth especially liked shopping for shoes, purses, and earrings. She also liked scouting the art gallery in Winterset for pictures by her favorite artist, P. Buckley Moss. She also collected bird pictures and bird sculptures.

Ruth played bridge for many years. She often said, “she believed she was born with a deck of cards in her hands”, and was always ready to play. In recent years she looked forward to the frequent competitive card games with her nephew, Jeff and his wife Lisa, and other occasional family visitors. Ice cream was often served when family gathered. As a child, she recalled, her family looked forward to making hand-turned homemade ice cream every weekend, particularly in the summer. She and her siblings often commented that you weren’t truly “Cornell” if you didn’t like ice cream.

One of Ruth’s favorite songs to sing was, “You Are My Sunshine”. She had learned to play the popular song on her clarinet in high school many, many years ago. Remarkably, she still remembered and could sing every verse even in the last days of her life.

Ruth passed from this life at The Village in Indianola, Iowa on September 4, 2022 at the age of 96 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, their spouses, and her nephew, Larry Cornell. She is survived by her nephews, Jeff (Lisa) Cornell of Altoona, IA, Gary (Corine) Cornell of Eyota, MN, Steve (Sharon) Cornell of Ackworth, IA, and her niece, Teresa Cornell Doonan of Gilbert, AZ.

Gretta “Ruth” Cornell was born on August 23, 1926 to Dewey Cornell and Lavenia (Gripp) Cornell, at their home (The IGO Ranch) in Warren County, Iowa. She joined her twin brothers, Lavere and Lavon, who were five years older. Ten years later, her sister, Ardys was born to their family.

While growing up on the farm, Ruth always enjoyed her pets, mostly dogs. She rode her horse, Dick, to the Mount Tabor country school from first grade through third grade, until her family moved to a farm just one mile east of New Virginia, Iowa. From then on, she walked to the town school in New Virginia, where she graduated in 1944. While in high school she played the clarinet in the band and she also played forward in 6-on-6 girls basketball, which was popular at the time.

Following high school graduation, Ruth moved to Des Moines and attended AIB Business College, where she graduated with a degree in accounting. She used her business and accounting skills in various businesses including a construction company, Wulkan Insurance Agency, and Mobil Oil Company. Most of her career in business was spent at Onan Corporation in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she worked as an executive secretary, retiring at the age of sixty eight.

Living in Minnesota for many years, Ruth enjoyed many lake activities. She and a group of friends rented a cabin yearly on Sylvan Lake, spending every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day, swimming, boating, and canoeing.

In 1996, Ruth sold her home and moved with her beloved dog to The Village Retirement Community in Indianola, Iowa. Her sense of humor and quick wit made her a favorite among staff and residents. This move also brought her closer to extended family, particularly close to her sister, Ardys. They spent many days together browsing the small shops around the courthouse square in Winterset, Iowa, near Ardys and her husband, Ken Carter’s farm home on the edge of Truro, Iowa. Always a stylish dresser, Ruth especially liked shopping for shoes, purses, and earrings. She also liked scouting the art gallery in Winterset for pictures by her favorite artist, P. Buckley Moss. She also collected bird pictures and bird sculptures.

Ruth played bridge for many years. She often said, “she believed she was born with a deck of cards in her hands”, and was always ready to play. In recent years she looked forward to the frequent competitive card games with her nephew, Jeff and his wife Lisa, and other occasional family visitors. Ice cream was often served when family gathered. As a child, she recalled, her family looked forward to making hand-turned homemade ice cream every weekend, particularly in the summer. She and her siblings often commented that you weren’t truly “Cornell” if you didn’t like ice cream.

One of Ruth’s favorite songs to sing was, “You Are My Sunshine”. She had learned to play the popular song on her clarinet in high school many, many years ago. Remarkably, she still remembered and could sing every verse even in the last days of her life.

Ruth passed from this life at The Village in Indianola, Iowa on September 4, 2022 at the age of 96 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, their spouses, and her nephew, Larry Cornell. She is survived by her nephews, Jeff (Lisa) Cornell of Altoona, IA, Gary (Corine) Cornell of Eyota, MN, Steve (Sharon) Cornell of Ackworth, IA, and her niece, Teresa Cornell Doonan of Gilbert, AZ.

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