Ruth Emma Louise Trost, 93, of Jefferson died Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at Greene County Medical Center.
A Celebration Of Life was held Monday, Jan. 18, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson, Iowa. Words of comfort were given by Rev. Timothy A. Jones. Mark Erickson was the organist. Casket bearers were Mitchell Trost, Dennis Trost, Jeff Trost, Steve Trost, Scott Trost, Greg Trost, Pat Reding, George Walker, Tim Sommerer and Matt Margheim. Interment was at Highland Township Cemetery in Churdan, Iowa.
Ruth Emma Louise Trost, beloved sister and aunt, was born September 4, 1922 to Adolf O. and Laura B (Nahnsen) Trost. She came from humble beginnings and humble she remained over her 93 years. The Trost family lived in a parsonage in Farnhamville at the time of Ruth’s birth and her father baptized her at his St. Peter’s parish on September 22, 1922. She was later confirmed by him at his other parish Christ Lutheran. Ruth attended elementary school in Farnhamville and later in Churdan when the family moved in 1932. Ruth graduated from Churdan High School in 1940 and in 1943 the family moved to Jefferson. Ruth worked at Shelby Produce Company, the Gold Medal mail order company, Food and Fruit Market, and Baller’s Auto and Home Supply. She also worked at Jefferson State Bank (later Brenton Bank) in Jefferson until she retired in 1988. She sold the family home in 1994 and moved to the Greenewood Retirement Community. Ruth was blessed to be able to live out her life independently in her apartment overlooking the golf course.
Ruth was devoted to her church and was active in LWML and the Fellowship Society. She used her talents and gifts as church historian keeping all of the events of the church documented in scrap books and photo albums. Ruth was also responsible for the creation and care of Trinity’s Flower Garden and worked many hours keeping it looking beautiful for everyone to enjoy. Ruth’s love of music led her to join the vocal and handbell choirs and she faithfully served as the church organist for 43 years. She especially enjoyed organ music. Ruth had a gift for crafting. She created the Chrismons that are used to decorate the church’s Christmas tree every year. She made ornaments for her family and friends, always sharing her gifts with others. She loved to read, and put together puzzles and she had a great love for nature as was evident from all of the bird feeders situated outside her window. She loved to sit in her chair and watch the birds come up and eat. She was a regular letter writer and kept in constant contact with all of her family and friends through letters and greeting cards. She had a gift of making others feel special. Ruth was probably best remembered for her love of angels. She always wore an angel pin on her clothing and her home was decorated with angels everywhere you looked. Those that knew her came to understand that she was so connected because she was an angel on Earth. Ruth was taken to heaven on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at Greene County Medical Center.
Those preceding her in death were her parents, Adolf and Laura Trost; her brothers, Herbert, Paul and Charles; sister-in-law, Eloise (Herbert); nephew, Terry; and great niece Kristen. Her survivors include her brother Edgar and his wife Geneva of Newton; sisters-in-law, Joann (Paul) of Wall Lake and Phyllis (Charles) of Jefferson; nephews, Jeff (Julie) Trost, Steve (Lori) Trost, Scott (Deb) Trost and Greg (Karen) Trost; nieces, Kim (Pat) Reding, Laurie (George) Walker, Lisa (Tim) Sommerer and Susan (Matt) Margheim; 22 great nephews and nieces; and many relatives and friends. She will be greatly missed, but we are comforted by the fact that she is reunited with her family and at peace with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - Amen!
Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, www.sliningerschroeder.com.