Ruth B. Gravitt, age 100, of Coon Rapids, IA, passed away Sunday, May 19, 2024, at Unity Point Health Allen Hospital in Waterloo, IA.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids with John Kult officiating. Casket bearers will be Jeff Boettcher, Justin Boettcher, Jared Boettcher, Jamie Jackson, Christopher Jackson, and Scott Schaefer. Honorary casket bearers will be Gerald McComb, Alan McComb, Doug McComb, Darwin McComb, Leland Gute, Jill McClure, Paul Lyons, Karen Jacobson, Gary Kopaska, Pam DeWald, and Paula Redmond. Burial will be in the Union Township Cemetery in rural Coon Rapids.
Visitation will be held at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids from 5 – 7 P.M. on Wednesday with a Prayer Service at 7:00 P.M. Visitation will resume on Thursday morning at the funeral home from 9:30 – 10:15 A.M. prior to the service.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids and online condolences may be left for Ruth’s family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com
Ruth was born on June 3, 1923, in Richland Township, Carroll County, IA, 6th in line of 7 children and was the daughter of William and Rushie (Visner) Gute. She attended rural school at Oak Hill northwest of Coon Rapids through the 8th grade. Ruth then started working various jobs in the area including the creamery where she candled eggs. On January 27, 1948, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, James Eugene Gravitt by Rev. W. Fay Ford in Beaver, IA. They were blessed with two children, Carolyn Kay and Dennis Lee. The couple farmed in various places throughout Guthrie and Carroll County until they made their home in Coon Rapids in October of 1968. She was employed for the Pioneer and Garst Seed Company sorting corn for many years and was promoted to coffee lady. She cleaned the buildings at the fairgrounds for over 30 years and many houses in the Coon Rapids area until she was 97 years old. Ruth loved to cook and made numerous meals for several organizations including the Kiwanis and the Rotary Club for over 30 years and was well known for her fried chicken, pickled beets, and strawberry salad. In her spare time, she enjoyed tending to her large flower and vegetable gardens and canned the produce she reaped. You could often find her feeding the neighborhood stray cats and absolutely adored her two cats “Fluffy Fan Tail” and “Kitty Meow”. Ruth was known as “Big Grandma” to her great grandkids and cherished the time spent with her family. She was a kindhearted woman and loved everyone she met. The family is so thankful for the time they got to spend with Ruth, and she will be missed by many, and they will always remember the love she had for all of them.
Ruth is survived by her daughter Carolyn (Mark) Trumbla of Spirit Lake, IA; son Dennis (Kim) Gravitt of Carroll, IA; 9 grandchildren: Kiane (Joe) Goebel, Keri Ehlers (Todd Schroeder), Kristin (Jamie) Jackson, Kimberly Boettcher, Jeff Boettcher, Justin Boettcher, Jared (Magally) Boettcher, Stephanie Hills (Scott Schaefer), and Valerie Fineran; 17 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Ruth is preceded in death by her husband James Eugene Gravitt; parents; daughter-in-law Kathy Gravitt; son-in-law Darrell Boettcher; grandson James Boettcher; grandson-in-law Billy Smith; great-granddaughters, Barbara Rose Ehlers and Ellie Mae Boettcher; brothers, Frank (Betty) Gute and Clarence (Evelyn) Gute; sisters: Isabell (Eldon) Annear, Edith (Louis) Kopaska, Clara (Harry “Bing”) Lyons, and Wilma (Harold) McComb.
