Lucille Ruma

Lucille K. Ruma, 93, of Bryant, Iowa, died Sunday, January 15, 2012 at Prairie Hills. Services will be 10:30 am, Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Sugar Creek, Iowa. Visitation will be 3 - 7 pm Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Home & Crematory, where a Rosary will be recited at 7pm. Burial will be in the St. Mary's Cemetery, Bryant, Iowa. Pallbearers will be Allen Kreikemeier, Bill Buettner, Sherrie Fischer, Wenndie Kline, David Farrell and Steven Farrell. Lucille was born December 24, 1918 in Belgrade, NE, the daughter of John E. and Julia (Carroll) Kennedy. She married Sam Ruma in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska; he died June 23, 1994. Lucille had many careers as she journeyed throughout life. She was a wife, mother, grand, great-grand and great great-grandmother. Family, faith and friends were the most important to her. Lucille grew up on a Nebraska farm, graduated from Cedar Rapids, Nebraska High School, moved to Omaha and later married a city slicker, Sam. Lucille and Sam loved to dance; and even taught ballroom dancing. Later they enjoyed square dancing. They moved to Iowa in 1940, where Sam was a pharmacist. In 1953 they became co-owners of Sam's Pharmacy. Lucille showed her compassion for people as a physical therapist aide and later as a bookkeeper at Jane Lamb Physical Therapy for 30 years. She also enjoyed reading (and holding a book!), traveling, bowling and gardening, including raising flowers. Playing cards was a favorite past time. Her second Wednesday of the month 500 club of 50 plus years was a top priority. Lucille enjoyed being Irish and loved St. Patrick's Day. Her family would attest to the fact that because of her Sicilian husband, she became the best Irish meatball and spaghetti maker in the world. As a devout Catholic, the rosary was her favorite prayer, followed closely by the Guardian Angel prayer and her devotion to St. Theresa. Survivors include her daughter, Lu Ann Farrell of Bryant, IA; sons, John A. (Penney) Ruma of Valley, NE and Sam R. (Janice) Ruma of Texarkana, AR; 11 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren; two great great-grandchildren; brothers, Melvin J. (Bernita) Kennedy of Grand Island, NE and Carroll (Jeanine) Kennedy of Cedar Rapids, NE; sisters, Joan (Richard) Batenhorst of Omaha, NE and Jean Lutz of Houston, TX and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband she was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and one sister. Memorials may be made to the family for a charity of their choice.

Lucille Ruma

December 24, 1918 - January 15, 2012