Ruth Ione (Blau) HEMMES

BLAU, HEMMES, GERDES, PRALLE-HIRTH, PRALLE, HIRTH, MCCARVILLE, ATKINSON, BRAKKE, KOENEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/28/2016 at 00:21:15

February 11, 1916 ---- July 10, 2004

HAMPTON — Ruth Ione Hemmes, 88, died Saturday (July 10, 2004) at the Hampton Care Center in Hampton of natural causes. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday at Zion Reformed Church in rural Sheffield, with the Rev. Rodney Meester officiating. Burial will be in Zion Reformed Church Cemetery in rural Sheffield. Visitation will be today from 4 to 7 p.m. at Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home in Hampton.

Ruth was born on Feb. 11, 1916, in Alexander, the daughter of George and Margaret (Gerdes) Blau. She attended Franklin County schools. On Sept. 4, 1935, Ruth married Tobias Hemmes on the family farm. Ruth was a homemaker and loved baking and cooking, particularly cinnamon rolls, fresh bread and pies. Nobody could whip the meringue any higher! With fresh baked goods always at hand, she was the perfect hostess, and often had friends, neighbors, kids, and grandkids popping in for a "quick" game of canasta with coffee, tea, and treats. While friends, cards, flowers and gardening all found ways to occupy Ruth's time, it was her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids that brought her ultimate joy! She lovingly crocheted afghans for all the grandkids and baby blankets for great-grandchildren for as long as she was able to do so. She was a proud and faithful member of Zion Reformed Church for more than 50 years, and was active in many church groups, ladies JOY fellowship and RCW. Her work in the church wasn't work at all, because her greatest fulfillment was in helping others and spreading God's love. She always assured anyone who parted her company, "Go with God, and He will go with you!," and you couldn't help but smile when she offered a wave and her patent farewell directive, "Be Happy!"

Ruth is survived by her daughters, Marlys J. Pralle-Hirth and her husband, Ron Hirth, of Ankeny, Judy A. McCarville and her husband, John, of Newton, Janet Atkinson of Hampton and her special friend, Ken Brakke; a sister, Eva Faye Littzen of Fort Dodge; a brother, Marvin G. Blau of Latimer; seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren. Preceding Ruth in death were her parents; husband, Tobias; infant grandson, Jeffrey McCarville, brother Edward Blau; and sister, Esther Koenen. Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home, Hampton, Iowa.