Ruth Lynn Kanour

Ruth Lynn Kanour, age 80, of Ottumwa, IA, formerly of Albia, IA, passed away on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at the Monroe County Hospital in Albia, surrounded by her loved ones, under the care of EveryStep Hospice.

Ruth was born on March 13, 1945, at Sutter Maternity Hospital in Sacramento, CA, to Joseph L. and Ruth (Meyers) Mason. She grew up attending school and graduated from LDF High School in Iowa. On July 25, 1964, she was united in marriage to Eugene "Gene" Kanour in Newton. Ruth and Gene shared 48 years of marriage prior to Gene's passing on October 22, 2012.

Ruth began her working career as a waitress at the Highway 30 Café in Marshalltown before going on to work at the pop bottle company. She later worked at Kiowa, first in production and later in the tool crib. After she and Gene moved to Pennsylvania, Ruth was employed as a machine operator for BBA Woven until they returned to Iowa in 2001. She then worked for John Deere, where she assembled round baler pickups until her retirement in 2007.

Ruth loved riding motorcycles with Gene, and together they traveled to nearly all 50 states and even made the trip to Sturgis. She enjoyed camping and had a passion for fast cars, owning several over the years-including a Camaro, Firebird, Nova, and Corvette. She was an avid reader of romance novels and was fascinated by Native American culture, collecting many cherished Native American pieces. A devoted Nascar fan, Ruth especially enjoyed cheering for Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch. She also enjoyed attending races with her lifelong friends, Meridel and Wendell Folkerts. She loved watching Iowa Hawkeye football and Iowa women's basketball and later followed the Indiana Fever once Caitlin Clark joined the team. She took great joy in attending her stepchildren's sporting events. Above all else, Ruth's family was everything to her and she cherished all the time spent with them.

Ruth is survived by her son, William (Stephanie) Kanour; a stepdaughter, Debbie (Andrew) Sobota; 5 grandchildren, Shayla (Alex) Huffman, Blair Holohan, Emmett Holohan, Mathew Kanour, and Danielle Kanour; and her lifelong friends, Meridel and Wendell Folkerts, Marsha Stowe, Jean Sieck, and Jesse Mathes. Ruth is also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins, and good friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Gene Kanour; her parents, Joseph and Ruth Mason; a stepson, Paul Kanour; her cousin, Bonnie (George) Bulanek; and good friends Gene and Mary Buchanan.

Per Ruth's wishes, her body has been cremated and a graveside service will be held at Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown at a later date.

Cards of condolences can be mailed to Ruth's family at c/o Tharp Funeral Home, 116 Benton Ave. West, Albia, IA 52531.