Ruth Huisman

   Ruth Genice Huisman, daughter of Harry and Margaret DeHaan was born April 29, 1920, at Prairie City, Iowa. She was 103 years old and passed peacefully, at the time of her death on December 6, 2023.

   She attended Prairie City Community School and graduated in 1937. She attended college at UNI and a few years later obtained a B.S. degree in education from Drake. She spent 27 years teaching in elementary grades at Van Meter, Prairie City, Redfield and AR-WE-VA.

   On June 8, 1941, Ruth was united in marriage to Ralph Huisman, Jr. To this union, two sons, Bruce and Terry, were born. They made their home in several places including Moorland, Redfield, Pella and Westside, Iowa.

   After retirement in 1982, Ruth and Ralph continued to make their home in Westside maintaining a large house and yard. After Ralph’s death in 2001, she moved into the Westside Plaza. In 2012, to be closer to family, she relocated to Spurgeon Manor in Dallas Center, where she spent the remainder of her life.

   She was a member of the United Church in Westside where she served on committees and taught Sunday School. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Church activities also included singing in the choir and preparing communion for several years.

   Ruth was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who enjoyed the time she shared with her family. She was especially proud of her housekeeping skills and cookie baking. Even in her final days, Ruth took great care to be dressed to greet each day -with matching outfit, jewelry and finished hair and makeup. Ruth welcomed people into her life and had something nice to say about everyone. She was and always will be a peach!

   Ruth commented often on how blessed she was with all the family and friends she enjoyed during her lifetime.

   A special note of thanks to two groups in particular: the Westside community, especially the United Church members, for continuing to write and visit Ruth after she moved to Dallas Center as well as, the Spurgeon Manor staff and residents. She cherished you as family and loved all of you. Your continued involvement and support of her during her lifetime was greatly appreciated.

   She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ralph; son, Bruce; daughter-in-law, Sandy; sister, Lenore Keller; brothers: Bob Van Arkel and Fred DeHaan; and a grandson in infancy. She is survived by her son, Terry (Lynn) Huisman; daughter-in-law, Gail Huisman; three grandchildren: Angela (Jack) Thomas, Daniel (Lexie) Huisman, and Emily (David) Meier; three great-grandchildren: Jackson, Madison, and Mason; several nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

 

Her visitation with the family greeting friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at United Church in Westside. Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, also at the United Church in Westside. Ruth’s wishes were to be cremated following her funeral service and inurnment will be held with the family in the Westside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the AR-WE-VA Foundation or the United Church Chapel Room Project.