Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 10, 2024 at Holy Spirit Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The celebrant will be Fr. Terry Roder. Music will be by Kathy Halbur. Lectors will be Kyle Vonnahme and Nick Sauvageau. Gift Bearers will be Clayton Irlbeck and Kameron Minard. Eucharistic Minister will be Julie Steinkamp. Casket Bearers will be Jessica Sauvageau, Ashley Minard, Carissa Samuelson, Corynn Irlbeck, Rachel Walters, Kyle Vonnahme, and Ben Vonnahme. The Catholic Daughters of the Americas will form an honor guard for the funeral mass. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery in Maple River.
Visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Friday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a rosary at 6 p.m. by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Additional visitation will be from 9-9:45 a.m. on Saturday at the church. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home and online condolences may be left for Ruth’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Ruth was born on February 9, 1944 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll, Iowa. She was the daughter of Lawrence and Margaret (Timmerman) Venner. She spent her younger years on the family farm helping her mother garden and bake and her father with chores. She attended St. Francis of Assisi grade school and graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School. She enjoyed many adventures with her cousins at family outings.
On September 8, 1962 she was united in marriage to Dale Steinkamp at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Maple River by Rev. P.M. Mattes. They resided in Fertile, Iowa until 1976 when they moved to their home west of Carroll. This is where they raised their family. Ruth helped with the farming operation and also enjoyed much success selling World Book Encyclopedias. After their children left home, she began her career at American Home Shield and retired in 2011.
In 2002, Dale and Ruth moved to their new house in Carroll and enjoyed the years they shared there together. They enjoyed wintering in Arizona, traveling with relatives and spending time with their children and grandchildren. Throughout the years, many great memories were made at Okoboji with family and friends. Ruth also enjoyed Red Hat outings, grandchildren activities, her great-grandkids, and crocheting. She has been known to play a mean game of cards.
She was a long time member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Maple River where she was active as a Eucharistic Minister, Lector, choir member and was instrumental in planning the 75th Jubilee for St. Frances. She then joined Holy Spirit parish in Carroll. She was very active with the Catholic Daughters of America, many, many card groups, and the Red Hat ladies.
Survivors include her children: Bob (Julie) Steinkamp of Arcadia, Kevin (Marie) Steinkamp of Logan, and Cathy (John) Vonnahme of Arcadia. Her grandchildren: Jessica (Nick) Sauvageau, Ashley (Kirt) Minard, Carissa (Andy) Samuelson, Corynn (Nick) Irlbeck, Rachel (Heath) Walters, Kyle Vonnahme and Ben Vonnahme. Her great-grandchildren: Clayton, Gavin and Adelynn Irlbeck, JoAnna Samuelson, Kameron Minard, Foster Sauvageau and one expected this spring. Her brother and sister-in-laws: Marge Steinkamp of Ankeny, Lois Sturm of Carroll, John Steinkamp of Gowrie, and Rita Roth of Fort Dodge as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended relatives and many friends.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Dale, her parents, her son Randy, her daughter-in law Barb (Green), her in laws: Norville (Lucy), Ivan, Merle, Donald (Mary Ann), Anita, Roger, Irene (John) Sturm, Deloris (Ed) Sturm, Duane (Delores), Gene (Marilyn), Bert Sturm and Dave Roth.