Juergens, Ruth Imogene Wagner

JUERGENS, WAGNER

Posted By: Lorelei Rusco (email)
Date: 6/4/2014 at 14:14:20

Juergens, Ruth Imogene Wagner -
Services were held for Ruth Imogene Juergens on September 11, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. at the Clearfield Christian Church with
Reverend Eydie Stephens.
Casket bearers were Lawrence Siverly, Dwight Matheny, Phil Larson, Joe Routh, Gaylen Bell, and Charles Jackson. Honorary
Pallbearers were Joan Owens, Norma Beggs, Dorothea Larsen, Dorene Rusk, Robert and Ruth Thompson, Marvin and Betty
Boyer, and Vernon and Jesse Straight. Interment was held at Clearfield Cemetery in Clearfield, Iowa.
Ruth Imogene Wagner was born November 8, 1926, to Henry and Maude Wagner in LaPorte, Indiana. She was the fourth of
nine daughters in the Wagner family.
She attended school there and in 1943 met Dale Juergens at a defense plant where the two were employed. The couple married
September 15, 1946, in LaPorte, and moved to Iowa, eventually settling in Clearfield where they lived for over 50 years. Ruth and
Dale would have celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary this month. One of their favorite things to do together was to go to
dances and dance to the music of the Big Band Era.
God blessed the couple with four children, Sharon, Karen, Annette and Mike, and also six grandchildren.
Ruth was a member of the Clearfield Christian Church, CWF, Lionels and Eastern Star. She held many volunteer positions in the
Church, including leading the youth choir for many years, and gave much of her time in support of her children's school, music,
sports and 4-H activities.
Ruth took great pride in caring for her family and home, and loved to work outside planting a wonderful variety of beautiful
flowers. She never had a grand landscaping plan, but rather, if she thought a plant or flower was pretty she would find a place to put
it in the yard, then nurture it, and take much delight when it grew and bloomed. Her children's yards now contain a lot of lovely
foliage that got started in Ruth's yard under her tender loving care.
Ruth also had a warm heart for the elderly in the community. She would frequently take pies or other baked foods to their
homes, or share family Thanksgiving or Christmas meals with them.
She was also faithful in sending cards to friends to say Happy Birthday or Get Well, and in her later years, would write letters to
friends who were not feeling well or who were spending the winter down South, to see how they were doing and to catch up on news.
One of her favorite days of the week was Friday when she went to Creston to get her hair done and then go shopping. She
was on a first name basis with many of the store clerks in Creston over the years and enjoyed taking time to visit with them.
Ruth cherished her grandchildren, and celebrated with them everything from news of a first tooth to their school
accomplishments.
In the last couple weeks of her life, she, Dale and their kids spent cherished moments together, laughing with one another,
retelling family stories, singing Happy Birthday to Mike, sharing Communion and reciting the Lord's Prayer.
And because of the faith the family shares, they believe Ruth is still laughing arid singing and taking a spin around-the dance,
floor, pain free, up in heaven.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Dora Bealor, Velma Home and Janice Thompson.
Left to mourn her passing are husband, Dale, of Clearfield, daughters, Sharon (Ray) Weiss of Herndon, VA, Karen (Michael)
Spanier of Reno, NV, and Annette (Jeff) Busbee of Cedar Rapids, IA, and son Mike (Mary Beth) Juergens of Atlantic, IA; and
sisters, Iola Spencer, Doris Hughett, Pearl Wagner, Betty Bradford and Carol Peoples; and 6 grandchildren, Nicholas and Andrew
Spanier, Brandon and Alex Busbee and Stephanie and Alex Juergens.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday September 17, 2003