Ruby Hazel Boehnke

GARNER - Ruby H. Boehnke, of rural Garner died Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at Mercy Medical Center - North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Monday, May 7th at St. John's Lutheran Church east of Garner with Carl Hedberg officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 P.M., Sunday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E. 4th St., Garner and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Ruby Hazel (Hage) Boehnke was born in Jewell, Iowa on September 11, 1916 on the farm. She was the daughter of Charles and Blanche (Claire) Hage. She was baptized and confirmed in Jewell, Iowa. Ruby graduated from Garner Community Schools with honors as the Salutatorian. While she was a student at Garner, Ruby was involved in debate and cheerleading. While Ruby was living in Garner, she worked at a number of jobs. Ruby worked at the Garner Library because she was a "Book Lover". Ruby could never read enough. Ruby also worked at the Avery Theatre while in high school. She said they used to sneak upstairs and smoke cigarettes. Ruby also worked alongside her father at the egg processing business in Garner. People from Chicago used to come in and say that Ruby was the fastest egg caser around. Ruby prided herself in being the best at whatever she pursued. Ruby also worked in Des Moines for a very wealthy family. We are not sure exactly who they were except that we think their name was Courley/Corley. Ruby said that she used to take their children to the library and to Terrace Hill? Ruby was loved by many people from Mason City to Garner. She always made a friend when she was out and about.

Ruby married Raymond Friedrich Boehnke on July 25, 1936 in Algona. They lived on the family farm north of Garner where they raised five daughters. On the farm, Ruby used to cook meals for the farmers and help out as needed, even riding the tractor if necessary. Ruby also made the farm look like a park through the years. She worked hard to clean the grove and keep it beautiful for the family. Ruby was active in PTA and Band Boosters at Ventura Schools. Ruby also was a very active member of the Democratic Party all of her life. Ruby attended St. John's Lutheran Church in rural Garner up until her death. She was a Sunday School teacher and an active member of the Ladies Aide.

In her late 60's, Ruby began working for the Kotzs' at the Barrel Drive In. She was head cook and loved by the many carhops who worked there. Ruby used to be a mother to all of the carhops; they were her second family. She used to race the kids in her snazzy Oldsmobile and laugh when she beat them. She never went slow in her Oldsmobiles through the years. Everyone on her blacktop knew to stay out of the way when she was on her way to work. After her years at the Barrel, Ruby worked as a mail carrier at the Garner Post Office. She was so proud of this. She used to pride herself in her speed. Ruby walked two different routes in Garner; one 9 miles and one 15. She used to laugh when she would beat the men carriers by an hour or two. They would get so mad at her. Right men?? Ruby always said that the walking is what kept her slim and trim.

Ruby/Mom/Grandma/Great Grandma/Great Great Grandma will always be remembered in her kitchen. She always cooked up such good stuff for her family. Her Special K bars were the families favorite, in addition to her Monkey Bread. Ruby loved being with her children and grandchildren. Family was so important to her. She loved doing things with family through the years; fishing trips and playing cards were two of her favorite activities with her family; winning at playing cards was probably her truly favorite! Ruby and Ray used to love to visit their five daughters. They loved spending time with them all through the years. The "Annual Boehnke Family" reunion was such a blessing through the years. It was a time when all of the girls and their families could get together on the farm. It was a true "Boehnke" tradition.

Ruby had so much fun with Ray. As a young girl, she was enamored by Ray's good looks, charm and even his "wild side". She said she didn't like that, but she truly did. Ruby and Ray used to go to the Surf and dance. If anyone ever saw them dance, they said that they were really the very best dancers in the area. They used to go to the old Ritz. When they walked in the door, the piano player would start to play a special song just for them. Ruby loved Big Band music, as she quoted Guy Lombardo, "It is the sweetest music this side of Heaven". Ruby and Ray also spent many nights at the Harbor Inn on the lake enjoying the company of friends. The Colony was a favorite place to eat years ago. This love is what led to a family of 84.

She is survived by her five daughters, Virginia (Don) Brocker of Woodbury, MN, Barbara Needham of Mound, MN, Kay (Alden) Lundebrek of Starbuck, MN, Patricia (Dick) Nordman of Arlington Heights, IL and Rebecca (David) Ziesmer of Garner; fourteen grandchildren, Victoria (Edward) Huebsch, Michelle Holmgren, Patrice (John) Horner, Michael (Deborah) Brocker, David (Robyn) Needham, Jonathan Needham, Patrick Needham, Dana (Charles) Parks, John (Heather) Lundebrek, Sarah (David) Solak, Matthew (Karen) Nordman, Angela (Michael) Ryg, Alison Ziesmer and Derek Ziesmer; thirty-seven great-grandchildren; and eight great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ray, February 2, 2005; three sisters: infant sister Leona, Evelyn Boehnke and Shirley Engebretson; two sisters-in- law: Lillian Wetterling and Norma Smokstad; and a great-great-grandson, Michael John, who died on May 1, 2012.

A special thank you to Ruby's daily caregivers on the farm; Holly and Melissa. They helped make it possible for Ruby to stay on the farm. They helped enhance her life these past few months. Also, a thank you to Dr. Mixdorf, Dr. Rajkumar, and the nurses on 5 West at Mercy.