Ruth Dorothea Carlson, 90, passed away April 20, 2017 peacefully surrounded by her loving family and husband of 60 years.
A Christian Funeral will be held on Thursday, April 27 at 11 am, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 100 Sixth Street West in Jordan, with Pastor Jeremy Glowicki presiding. Friends may greet the family with a visitation starting at 9:30 am. Alan Meilach, Michael Smith, Paul Johnson, Robert Johnson, Mark Hodapp and Joe Baumann will act as pallbearers. She will be laid to rest at Spirit Hill Cemetery.
Ruth Dorothea was born on July 8, 1926 in Lanesburgh Township to parents Frederick and Caroline (Tietz) Bohnsack. She was baptized on July 17, 1926 and confirmed on May 12, 1940 by Reverend Kelm at Friedens Lutheran Church in Lanesburgh. One of six children, Ruth enjoyed growing up on the family’s farm with her 5 siblings and attended the local country school.
In Ruth’s younger years, shortly after World War II, she supported community of Jordan, working at the Hamburger Home, Wagner’s Supper Club, and many other local businesses. During that time, she met Eugene “Jim” Carlson, a local gentleman. On July 7, 1956, at St Paul’s Lutheran Church, they united in marriage and were blessed with three children, Susan, David and Lori. After her children were grown, Ruth worked over ten years at Norwesco Inc. in Belle Plaine.
Ruth enjoyed various hobbies of embroidering kitchen towels and pillowcases, working in the vegetable garden, and then canning the fruits of her labor. She was an avid cook, baker, and loved traveling with her family. She had a passion for cleaning and maintained a meticulous home. Most of all, she loved devoting her time and energy to her family.
Ruth was considered the matriarch of the family. She was a strong hard working woman who deeply loved her family. Ruth was kind, loving, and ever selfless putting her family’s needs before her own. She welcomed and enjoyed being a mother, a grandmother, and then in time a great grandmother. Ruth embodied the values of a good Christian woman. She volunteered at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church serving those in need and, most importantly, she lived and died as a humble Christian woman.
Left to honor Ruth’s life is her husband, Eugene Carlson; children, Susan (Alan) Meilach, David (Donna) Carlson, Lori (Michael) Carlson-Smith; grandchildren, Christine and Stephanie Meilach; great-grandchildren, Isabella and Odysseus; sister, Valdene Hodapp; many loving nieces and nephews.
Ruth will be greeted in Heaven by her parents, Frederick and Caroline (Tietz) Bohnsack; siblings, Ehler (Ann) Bohnsack, Margie (Mike) Kovich, Adeline (Warren) Baumann, Norma (George) Johnson Jr; brother-in-law, Gregory Hodapp.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation, Jordan Chapel, proudly served and cared for the Carlson family. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com
