Ruby Faye Rathbun

Ruby F. Rathbun, 91, of Waukon, IA, died Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 1st, at 11:00 AM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lansing, IA, with Pastor Laura Gentry officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Old East Paint Creek Cemetery in rural Waterville. Friends may greet the family from 10:00 AM until time of services on Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Waterville Ambulance or LIFT Food Pantry in Lansing. Martin – Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Ruby Faye Rathbun was born May 12, 1933, the daughter of Jesse William and Flavia (Wesner) Bush in rural Campbellsburg, IN, she was the middle daughter between her sisters Arlene and Cathy. Ruby attended school for eight years at Four Corners, one of the first schools in that area with two rooms divided by a blackboard that could be raised and lowered as needed. She graduated from Salem High School in Salem, IN, in 1951. Her first job was with Indiana Mutual Insurance as a clerk typist. From there, she worked for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Indianapolis as a file clerk.

Ruby moved to Texas to be with her good friend Juanita Moe and worked at a drive-in restaurant in Houston. Ruby met her future husband Kenneth Rathbun when he came to visit the Moe family. She and Kenny returned to rural Harpers Ferry, IA, where he was from, and were married on September 1, 1959, at Waterville Lutheran Church. They farmed together on a small farm, raising turkeys and chickens. Kenny passed away in February of 1986, and Ruby moved into Waukon and went to work at Northern Engraving as a sheet puller. She also worked part-time at the Pizza Hut in Waukon; Ruby retired in 2004 and moved back to the farm.

She was an avid reader, belonging to several book clubs. Ruby sewed her and her children's clothes for many years and enjoyed embroidery, making tablecloths and pillowcases. Ruby loved working in her garden spending many hours weeding and watering, keeping her flowers and vegetables thriving. She was an avid Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeye fan, watching hundreds of games cheering them on win or lose. Ruby loved spending time with her family always wishing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were closer to the Waukon area.

Survivors include her children: Carolyn Rathbun of Louisiana, Sharon (Mark) Klingeman of Monona, Ralph (Julie Ameling) Rathbun and Paula Rathbun, both of Harpers Ferry, and Kenneth (Kerry) Rathbun of Prairie du Chien, WI; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Kenneth; and two sisters: Arlene Thompson and Cathy Nice.

Casketbearers are Jason, Jared, and Scott Klingeman, Steve Jr. and Tim Dahlstrom, Derrick Eilers, Michael Goodwin, and Jacob Loomis.