A celebration of the life of Ruth Emma Louise Trost, 93, of Jefferson was held Monday, Jan. 18, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson.
Words of comfort were offered by the Rev Timothy A. Jones, pastor of the church. Organist was Mark Erickson. Interment was at Highland Township Cemetery in Churdan.
Her family was assisted by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home of Jefferson.
Ruth Emma Louise Trost, beloved sister and aunt, was born Sept. 4, 1922, to Adolf O. and Laura B. (Nahnsen) Trost. She came from humble beginnings and humble she remained over her 93 years. The Trost family lived in a parsonage in Farnhamville at the time of Ruth’s birth and her father baptized her at his St. Peter’s parish on Sept. 22, 1922. She was later confirmed by him at his other parish, Christ Lutheran.
Ruth attended elementary school in Farnhamville and later in Churdan when the family moved in 1932. Ruth graduated from Churdan High School in 1940 and in 1943 the family moved to Jefferson.
Ruth worked at Shelby Produce Company, the Gold Medal mail order company, Food and Fruit Market, and Baller’s Auto and Home Supply. She also worked at Jefferson State Bank (later Brenton Bank) in Jefferson until she retired in 1988. She sold the family home in 1994 and moved to the Greenewood Retirement Community. Ruth was blessed to be able to live out her life independently in her apartment overlooking the golf course.
Ruth was devoted to her church and was active in LWML and the Fellowship Society. She used her talents and gifts as church historian, keeping all of the events of the church documented in scrap books and photo albums. Ruth was also responsible for the creation and care of Trinity’s Flower Garden and worked many hours keeping it looking beautiful for everyone to enjoy. Ruth’s love of music led her to join the vocal and handbell choirs and she faithfully served as the church organist for 43 years. She especially enjoyed organ music.
Ruth had a gift for crafting. She created the Chrismons that are used to decorate the church’s Christmas tree every year. She made ornaments for her family and friends, always sharing her gifts with others. She loved to read, and put together puzzles and she had a great love for nature as was evident from all of the bird feeders situated outside her window. She loved to sit in her chair and watch the birds come up and eat. She was a regular letter writer and kept in constant contact with all of her family and friends through letters and greeting cards. She had a gift of making others feel special.
Ruth was probably best remembered for her love of angels. She always wore an angel pin on her clothing and her home was decorated with angels everywhere you looked. Those who knew her came to understand that she was so connected because she was an angel on Earth.
Ruth was taken to heaven on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016 at Greene County Medical Center. Those preceding her in death were her parents Adolf and Laura Trost, her brothers Herbert, Paul and Charles, sister-in-law Eloise (Herbert), nephew Terry and great-niece Kristen.
Her survivors include her brother Edgar and his wife Geneva of Newton; sisters-in-law Joann (Paul) of Wall Lake and Phyllis (Charles) of Jefferson; nephews Jeff (Julie) Trost, Steve (Lori) Trost, Scott (Deb) Trost and Greg (Karen) Trost, nieces Kim (Pat) Reding, Laurie (George) Walker, Lisa (Tim) Sommerer and Susan (Matt) Margheim; 22 great-nephews and nieces; and many relatives and friends.
She will be greatly missed, but we are comforted by the fact that she is reunited with her family and at peace with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – Amen!
