Ruth Young

Ruth Johanna Young passed away peacefully at Madison County Hospital in Winterset and was reunited in Heaven with her beloved Bill on Thursday, April 10, 2025 at the age of 88.

Ruth was born on October 9, 1936 to Ernst and Johanna (Schultz) Englemann in Ranis, Germany. She was 9 years old when WW2 ended and shared many wartime and post war stories with her family and friends. She loved to reminisce of her homeland, Germany.

Ruth was always a hard worker and at age 18 she traveled across the border to work at the Hotel Hollandischer Hof in Lich, Germany as a housekeeper/gardener. This proved providential as it was where she met a handsome, blue-eyed American GI named Bill. Bill had met many German girls but knew she was a special one when she offered him her chair at a social event. Via a translator and a series of events, Bill and Ruth were married on November 24, 1961. To this union three daughters were born: Carmen, Kim and Stacie.

Ruth and Bill were lifelong residents of Madison County. Ruth was a homemaker and great help to Bill on the farm and was always available to help load livestock, walk beans and any other duties needed. During the farm crisis, she also sought part-time work for a brief time and enjoyed a career as a banquet waitress at several hotels in Des Moines once the girls were mostly grown and out on their own.

Ruth will always be remembered for her thick German accent, her ready smile, generosity and hospitality along with her witty sense of humor. She had a passion for dancing, cooking and catering for family and friends and loved babies and pets of all kinds. She had the ability to lighten up any gathering and loved to have fun. Upon retirement, Ruth and Bill were able to spend many winters in Brownsville, Texas where they made many friends and special memories. She taught her girls the value of honesty, hard work, keeping a tidy house and being a generous giver and caretaker of others.

Ruth loved spending time with others, especially her family and grandchildren to whom she was lovingly known as Oma. She hosted many family get-togethers and always made Christmas extra special. She loved to shop and rarely came for a visit or let you leave her home empty handed. She and Bill attended several different churches over the years and always seemed to gravitate to where their girls were attending so they could join them for lunch afterwards. Of course, Ruth always insisted that Bill foot the bill!

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; parents, Ernst and Johanna Englemann; brothers, Heinz Englemann and Horst Englemann; and sisters, Ursula Englemann and Gisela Englemann.

Left behind to cherish her memory are her daughters, Carmen Strain (Tim) of Earlham, Kimberly Bown (David) of Winterset, and Stacie Young (Nate Son) of Dexter; 6 grandchildren, Sarah Stonehocker (Josh), Abby Thompson (Cole), Victorea Meza (Henry), Robert Strain (Marina), Justin Bown (Alex), and Tyler Goering (Anna); 8 great-grandchildren, Natalie Strain, Aubrey Goering, Emma Meza, Estelle Meza, Cole Stonehocker, Cheyenne Stonehocker, Tucker Thompson, and Wyatt Thompson; and sisters-in-law, Marichen Englemann and Barbel Englemann.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Winterset Chapel. A visitation, including a time of food and fellowship, will be held from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m., at the funeral home. Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m., at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for a future designation.