Ruth Annette Weasmer

On October 29, 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 Bruce 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 Farmers Savings Bank to return to their 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 there. 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 the bank, after which Garold presided as president of the Spragueville bank, and Ruth managed its branch office in Preston until 1971, when it 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 as a member of the Morning Prayer Circle. Ruth led a Girl Scout troop 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, mastered 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. The couple traveled extensively. 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 with dear friends at both the Temple and Belton Senior Centers until the end of her life. 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 throughout the COVID epidemic. 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 Weasmer and son-in-law Wayne Winekauf, Belton, TX, and their four daughters and their families: Ellen (nee Winekauf) and Brian Voyles, Shelbyville, IL; Rachel Ruth (nee Haynes) and Jeff Thomas and their children, Noah, Gemma Ruth, and Gabriel, Temple, TX; Amanda (nee Haynes) and Isaac Masoner and their children, Peaceful, Jude, and Pearl, Temple, TX; and Erica (nee Winekauf) and Jeffrey Glover and their daughter Gracyn, Belton, TX.

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.