Ruby Tuel

RUBY TUEL Ruby I. Tuel, 89, longtime resident of Atlantic, passed away unexpectedly at Avoca Nursing & Rehab Center on Saturday, June 27, 2009. Ruby Irene. was born the daughter of George and Anna (Campen) Brawe in Massena, Iowa on November 5, 1919. She grew up in Massena, attending school and graduating where she would become a country school teacher. She lived with her parents in their home while she taught for over six years. As a teacher, she had to build the fire when it was cold, scoop the snow, sweep floors and carry water. She also told the story about cleaning the outdoor toilets, noting it was a job she would rather forget. Her contract stated that she had to be 18 years old, and if she got married, the contract became null and void. After she had taught at Massena No. 5 for six years, she thought maybe the school needed a change of teacher so she moved along, only to return to the school she had missed so much. That lasted only three months, as "Penny Tuel," the man of her dreams, moved into her picture. As surprising turns of events took place in both Ruby's and Penny's lives, they became acquainted through her house keeping and cooking job and Penny's farming employment for the famed Roswell Garst family - hosts of Nikita Khrushchev, in Coon Rapids, Iowa. Ruby was paid a dollar a day while she worked for Mrs.Garst. Penny went to the service on October 17, 1941, and wasn't allowed to return or come home at all until he was discharged on October 17, 1945. He was not allowed to visit home during those years, even when his parents passed away. When he was finally discharged from Okinanwa, Ruby had the high light of her life when her brother took her to met Penny at the train station in Atlantic. Ruby was married to Leonard H. "Penny" Tuel in Atlantic on November 10, 1945 in Malvern, Iowa. The couple was blessed with a family of three children. As the children grew, she became a Penney's Department Store employee where she worked until retirement in 1983. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Her endeared hobbies and interests included gardening (she especially enjoyed geraniums and petunias), cooking and watching her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up. Her family will fondly remember her wonderful sense of humor. Ruby's survivors include her husband Penny of Atlantic; daughter Vicki Vollmuth of Omaha, NE; sons, Rodger Tuel and his wife Nancy of Berthoud, CO and Tim Tuel and his wife Denise of Shelby, IA; a sister Elsie Purvis of Grand Island, NE; a sister-in-law Millree Brawe of Massena, IA; grandchildren, Joel and Troy Tuel of Denver, CO, Amelia Tuel, Alyssa Tuel and Taylor Tuel of Shelby, IA, Chris Vollmuth and wife Julie of Omaha, NE, Jenny McKenzie and husband Ben of Omaha, NE, Missy Croom and husband Nate of Omaha, NE, Matt Vollmuth and wife Katie of Omaha, NE; great grandchildren, Grace, Lucy and Sam Vollmuth, Maddie and Mollie McKenzie and Ava Croom, all of Omaha, NE; nieces, nephews, friends and family. She was preceded in death by her parents George and Anna Brawe; brothers, Art, Harold and Elmer Brawe; son-in-law Lyle L, Vollmuth; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Chuck and Elaine Underberg, Reg and Genevieve Tuel, Howard and Bernice Tuel, Fern Brawe, Dorothy Brawe, and Elmer Purvis; nephew Val Tuel. Funeral InformationThere will be open visitation from 8:00 A.M. to 5 P.M. daily until family will meet with friends from 6:00 to 8:00 on Wednesday evening, July 1. Ruby's funeral will be held Thursday, July 2 at 10:00 A.M. at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. Rev. Lanette (Pollock) Plambeck, of First United Methodist Church in Atlantic, will officiate. The committal service will be in the Massena Cemetery in Massena, Iowa following the funeral.IN REMEMBRANCE OF RUBY IRENE TUELBorn November 5, 1919ENTERED INTO RESTJune 27, 2009At the age of 89 years, 7 months and 22 daysFUNERAL SERVICEThursday, July 2, 200910:00 O'clock in the MorningRoland Funeral HomeAtlantic, IowaOFFICIATINGRev. Lanette Pollock PlambeckOf the First United Methodist ChurchAtlantic, IowaSELECTED MUSICChurch Beside the RoadHello CentralRecorded by Bobby Lloyd ~ A Friend of the FamilyOn Eagles WingsHere I Am LordCathy Ray ~ Vocalist and Instrumental CASKET BEARERSGrandchildrenChris Vollmuth Matt Vollmuth Taylor Tuel Troy Tuel Joel Tuel Amelia Tuel Alyssa Tuel Jenny McKenzie Missy CroomHONORARY BEARERSNieces & NephewsLarry Brawe Keith Brawe Gary Purvis Maurine Bjornson Ray Westrick Connie Bowers Karen Eblen Danny Brawe Marilyn Hubka Lois Mae Whitaker Sandra TuelVal Tuel (Deceased)FLOWER COMMITTEEFamilyCOMMITTAL SERVICEMassena Cemetery Massena, IowaLUNCHEON Ruby's family extends an invitation for friends to join them for a luncheon to be held at Roland Funeral Home following the interment. For area church and cemetery directions, please click here:Church DirectionsCemetery Directions Roland Funeral Service is caring for Ruby's family and the arrangements. Condolences may be left at the Roland website, www.rolandfuneralservice.com.