Ruth Annette Weasmer

On October 19, 1924, Ruth Annette Weasmer (nee Marvin) was born the youngest of seven children at the family farm of Lyman and Mazella (nee McNeil) near Spragueville, Iowa. She graduated from nearby Preston High School in 1942 and married Garold Weasmer on July 17, 1943, one week before he was deployed to join the war in the Pacific. She was bussed to work at the Ordinance Depot in Savannah, Illinois but was allergic to the wartime chemicals and had to leave after six months. Then her best friend Verna Rankin and she shared an apartment in Maquoketa, Iowa and worked as tellers at the bank.

When Garold returned and went to Upper Iowa College on the GI Bill, Ruth lived with his mother in Preston and worked as a secretary for the Preston Creamery. After his graduation he accepted a teaching/coaching position and they moved to Tama, Iowa, where their only child Jerie was born. In 1954, he received a job offer from the Preston bank to return to his hometown, and Ruth and he worked together there while he completed his master’s degree at the U of Iowa. They continued to enjoy taking business management, business law, and tax preparation classes at Clinton Community College, followed by late evening swimming and diving. On weekends they drove to Davenport, Iowa for Arthur Murray dancing lessons, and loved to dance evenings in the family recreation room. They later purchased controlling shares of Farmers Savings Bank, after which Garold presided as president of the main bank and Ruth managed its branch office until 1971, when the bank was sold.

While in Preston Ruth was a member of the Methodist Church, sang in choir, and taught Sunday School for 18 years. She also served as school treasurer for ten years, president of Friends and Council Women’s Club for six years, Worthy Matron for Eastern Star, and a member of the Morning Prayer Circle. She led a Girl Scout troupe for ten years, and as a master seamstress and cook, shared her talents with the Scouts. She established two duplicate bridge groups and belonged to two party bridge groups

Next Garold served as president of Cresco State Bank in Northern Iowa, while Ruth learned to cross country ski, master Scandinavian wheat weaving and rosemaling, and enjoyed membership in multiple bridge groups. A first-time golfer, she fell in love with the game and, in time, filled an entire bookcase with tournament trophies.

When Garold retired in 1985, they relocated to Tipton, Iowa, where their daughter Jerie’s family resided. To escape Iowa’s harsh winters, they secured a second home along the Colorado River in lively Laughlin, Nevada, for 21 years. They later followed their daughter to live in Logansport, Indiana, Charleston, Illinois, and finally Belton, Texas.

Garold and Ruth were members of the Belton Methodist Church. After his death in 2008, she continued to enjoy playing bridge until the end of her life with dear friends at both the Temple and Belton Senior Centers. In 2019 Jerie and Wayne moved to Las Colinas, Texas for his work at 3M Glass, and Ruth moved into the apartment beside theirs. Jerie was grateful to have her mother close by throughout the COVID years. When they returned to Belton after three years, Ruth transferred her membership to First Methodist Church of Temple and the Saints and Sinners Sunday school class, where her daughter and son-in-law were members. She especially enjoyed Monday Bible study.

On February 27, 2026, at the age of 101, Ruth passed on to her heavenly home. She was preceded in death by her siblings: Fay, Alice (Caven), Seward, Dale, Lloyd, and George Marvin, and her loving husband Garold.

Surviving are her daughter Jerie and son-in-law Wayne, Belton, and their four daughters and their families: Ellen (nee Winekauf) and Brian Voyles, Shelbyville, IA; Rachel Ruth (nee Haynes) and Jeff Thomas and their children, Noah, Gemma Ruth, and Gabrielle, Temple, TX; Amanda (nee Haynes) and Isaac Masoner and their children, Peaceful, Jude, and Pearl, Temple; and Erica (nee Winekauf) and Jeffrey Glover and their daughter Gracyn, Belton.

To the end of her earthly days, she wore a sweet smile and was kind to all those she encountered. Jesus was delighted to welcome her home.