Rubene "Beanie" Fromknecht 1914-2011

FROMKNECHT, ZABEL

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/25/2011 at 22:34:16

Sioux City Journal
7 January 2011

SIOUX CITY -- Rubene "Beanie" Fromknecht, 96, of Sioux City died Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, at a local hospital.

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Charles Downing of Sac City, Iowa, officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Graceland Park Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Rubene Fromknecht was born April 3, 1914, in Crawford County, Iowa, to Rosa and Albert Zabel. The family later moved to Cushing, Iowa, where she attended school.

In 1936, she married Don R. Fromknecht, of Sioux City, in Omaha. They established residence in Sioux City. She was an active member of First Christian Church and Pi Omega Mu Sorority. During World War II, she was involved with U.S.O. activities at the Sergeant Bluff Air Base and baked many chocolate cakes for the servicemen to enjoy who were stationed at the base during that period.

The family moved to Des Moines in 1945, where Rubene became active in local community events. She was a Ladies Hospital Unit chairman of the Za Ga Zig Shrine, a member of the Daughters of the Nile, president of the Ladies Transportation Club, and a member of the Des Moines Garden Club.

When Mr. Fromknecht retired in 1968, they moved to Galva, Iowa, where they resided for 31 years. Beanie enjoyed entertaining, gardening, decorating, sewing, cooking, travel, playing golf and spent their winters in Texas, Florida or Hawaii.

In 1998, they returned to Sioux City. Beanie became a member of the Kandettes and the Hathor Temple Daughters of the Nile. She was also a member of the Auxiliary. She was known as the Cookie Lady at the Senior Center for Active Generations.

Beanie is survived by a son, Don Fromknecht Jr. and his wife, Shirley of St. George, Utah; a daughter-in-law, Georgia Fromknecht of Annandale, Va.; a brother, Albert Zabel and his wife, Louella of Galva, Iowa; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and many dear friends in the Galva, Holstein and Sioux City areas.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Don; her son, Capt. George Fromknecht, USN, retired; her parents; two sisters; and a brother.

The family would like to request memorials be directed to the Transportation Abu Bekr Crippled Children Hospital Fund.