Eugene Russell Ruby

Eugene “Gene” Ruby, 92, of Humboldt passed away on Saturday morning, February 16, 2019 at the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital.

He was born July 31, 1926, in Fort Dodge, the son of Lester and Lillian (Hamlow) Ruby. Gene was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge on November 1, 1929. After the death of his father when he was five years old, his mother remarried. The Andrew Thompson family eventually settled in the LuVerne-Hardy area. Gene attended Vernon School and was confirmed at the LuVerne Lutheran Church on March 29, 1942. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. He enlisted in the United States Army at age 18 and served from 1944 – 1946 and was stationed in Hawaii. He was a WWII veteran and a recipient of the Honor Flight. Gene was united in marriage to Evelyn Kruse on May 18, 1947 and they enjoyed 67 years together before her death in 2015. He was employed by the Humboldt Creamery for 25 plus years and Gunder Church Furniture. After retirement he worked for Davis Farm Supply, mowed Zion Lutheran Church and Union Cemetery for the City of Humboldt. Gene was a funeral usher at Zion until age 91. He was involved in many community organizations, being most proud of a member of the 1st Humboldt Ambulance crew, he also served on the Humboldt County Fair Board and was active in the boat club. Gene loved sports and coached his son’s baseball teams. He loved the Iowa Hawkeyes and would cheer on the Cyclones if he had too.
Gene was a hard worker and a great role model. He believed that you have to have some bad to appreciate the good and never give up faith in Our Father above. He will be missed by the many people who loved him and that great whistle. Rest in peace Gramps, you have earned it.

He is survived by his children, Bruce (Becky) Ruby, Buck Ruby, Pam (Paul) Davis and Tracy (Ed) Newman all of Humboldt, his grandchildren, Mike, Chad, Dawn, Shane, Nathan, Katie, Dayton, Travis, Trevor and Tannor, Shawna & Ryan, 16 great-grandchildren with two more expected in the spring, his brother, Kenneth (Joyce)Thompson, his sisters, Phyllis (Walter) Heslop, Barb (Mike) Zabel and his sister-in-law, Dottie (Darrell) Rusher. Gene was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn, his parents, Lester, Lilly and Andrew, his siblings, Evonne Cooper, Denny and Lyle Thompson and an infant sister.

Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 19th and the Funeral Service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 20th both at Zion Lutheran Church in Humboldt. Burial with military rites by the Sather’s Odgaard American Legion will be in Indian Mound Cemetery. www.masonlindhart.com