Ruth E. Schwemm, 96, of Tripoli, died Thursday, April 9, 2015 at Tripoli Nursing and Rehab in Tripoli.

Funeral Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 13, 2015, at St. Paul Lutheran Congregation in Tripoli, Iowa with Rev. John E. Block officiating. Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, April 12^th at Rettig Funeral Home in Tripoli and for one hour preceding services at the church on Monday. Memorials may be made in her name to St. Paul Lutheran Congregation or Tripoli Nursing and Rehab. 

Ruth Emilie, daughter of John C. and Emilie (Foelske) Ruehs was born September 29, 1918, in Maxfield Township of rural Bremer County, Iowa. She was baptized into the Lutheran faith at home by Pastor Louis Yockey and confirmed by Pastor Yockey at Immanuel Lutheran in Klinger, Iowa on March 20, 1932. Ruth attended country school in Franklin Township and parochial school at Immanuel Lutheran through eighth grade. She helped her parents on the farm and was employed in various homes in and around Tripoli. On February 19, 1939, Ruth was united in marriage with Carl H. Schwemm at St. John’s Lutheran Church-Western Douglas by Pastor Richard Steege. Ruth and Carl farmed in Douglas Township from 1939 to 1969, before moving to Tripoli in 1969. While living in Tripoli, she was employed as a custodian at the Tripoli Town Hall and later worked at the Bremer County Care Facility until 1978. Ruth remained in her home in Tripoli until moving in to the nursing home in 2005. She was a charter member of the Women’s Organization at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church-Siegel where she held many offices. Ruth enjoyed being active in the church, quilting, visiting with friends and growing flowers, but most especially, she cherished the time spent with family and watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up.

Ruth is survived by her three children, two sons, Alan (Linda) Schwemm of Waverly, Steven (Kathy) Schwemm of Waverly, and daughter, Deborah (Gary) Pardekooper of Johnston; seven grandchildren, Craig (Sheri) Schwemm of Tripoli, Troy (Keri) Schwemm of Pleasant Hill, Chad Schwemm of Tripoli, Michael (Anne) Schwemm of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ann Schwemm of Seattle, Washington, Austin Hartsook of Blacksburg, Virginia, and Blake Hartsook of Portland, Oregon; five step-grandchildren, Jody (Dave) Wilkinson of Georgetown, Kentucky, Jerome (Kati) Boeckmann of Tripoli, Matt, Cory, and Josh Pardekooper, all of Des Moines; eight great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; and one brother, Waldo Ruehs of Plainfield.

In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Carl, in 1981; two sisters, Darlene (Randy) Niedert and Esther (Lee) Bergmann; three sisters-in-law, Viola (Gustav) Brase, Margaret (Martin) Schweer, and Millie (Waldo) Ruehs; and two brothers-in-law, Ted and Henry Schwemm.