Ruby Lenora Bernauer

Ruby Lenora (Punneo) Bernauer, 97, was born July 25, 1928 in Dequeen Arkansas, and awoke in Heaven with Jesus September 26, 2025 in Houston Missouri. Ruby was born to Dora (Herman) Cowart and Claud Punneo and grew up in Arkansas, later moving to California. She was a Grandpa's girl and was close with her siblings growing up. She met her true love, Thomas "Tom" Bernauer at the Navy Pier where it was love at first sight and she sent her parents a photo from that evening saying she found the man she was going to spend her life with. They did just that after being wed on February 26, 1945 at the courthouse in Muskogee Oklahoma, when Tom returned home from war. To this union, they were blessed with 5 wonderful children: Jeanne, Elbert, Steven, Nancy and Carl. Ruby spent several years working at mattel, and unbeknownst to many was also involved with the at home war efforts building sight lenses for the B52's with special clearance. They traveled across the country together and retired to Lockwood Missouri in 1978 where they spent 28 years before moving to Republic Missouri in 2006 where they lived out their remaining years together. They were active members of their Lutheran Congregations in Lockwood and Republic Missouri, and proud members of the DAV and VFW. Ruby was well known for her quick wit, blatant truths, sass and sense of humor. She always enjoyed nature, especially butterflies, hummingbirds and flowers. She loved getting her hair done, manicures, and being pampered like the Queen she was. She loved good food (especially Mexican!) and her family, she was happily looking forward to becoming GiGi again in the coming months to Oliver and Denver, who she will undoubtedly watch over from Heaven now. Ruby joins her Mama and Daddy in Heaven, as well as her husband Tom; all of her siblings: Jesse, Claudia, Edith & Margarite; her babies: Carl, Steve & Jeanne, son in laws: Bill and Bob, daughter in laws: Kathleen, Jean and Leoma, and granddaughter Debbie. She is survived and remembered with love by son: Elbert Bernauer, of Wichita Kansas; loving daughter and son in law Nancy and Curt Cichon of Houston Missouri, who cared for her the last years of her life. Grandchildren: Donna & James, Gary, Scott, Carl, Michelle & Bernard, Curt & Shelly, Susan & Martin, Mary & Stacy, Ashley & Craig, Ernie & Andrea and Rosie & Ernest. As well as many many in laws, great grandchildren including the youngest crew who were her best buddies in her later years - Evander, Arianna, Vincent, Archer & Karson, great great grandchildren, along with many other loved ones and special long time friends - Connie, Anita, Candice, Sam and Thomas. Funeral services are under the care of Meadors Funeral Home in Republic Missouri, with visitation on Monday October 6th from 10:00 - 11:00 am, followed by funeral service at 11:00 am, with burial immediately following at Springfield Veterans Cemetery at 1:00 pm. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Ruby, please visit our Tree Store.