Ruth Graber

Wayland, Iowa – Ruth A. Graber, age 90, of Wayland, passed away Friday, June 17, 2016 at Parkview Home, Wayland.

Services will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 11:00 am at Sugar Creek Mennonite Church with Nathan and Rachelle Luitjens officiating.  Burial will be held prior to the service at 9:30 am in the Sugar Creek Cemetery.  Visitation will be held Friday, June 24 from 2 – 7 pm at the Sugar Creek Church where the family will greet friends from 5 – 7 pm.  Assisting the family is Beatty Funeral Home of Wayland. Online registry and expressions of condolences may be made at www.beattyfuneralhome.com.  The family suggest that memorial contributions be made to Parkview Home and Sugar Creek Mennonite Church.

Ruth was born July 21, 1925, in Noble, Iowa where her parents Elmer and Emma (Oswald) Freyenberger farmed. After graduation from Wayland High School she married Dennis V. Graber in 1944. Ruth devoted her time to helping Dennis on their Crawfordsville farm and to home making.  She was active in the neighborhood club, Sunset Circle. As a member of Sugar Creek Mennonite Church and the Loyal Companions Sunday School Class, Ruth taught summer Bible School, participated in Mennonite Women and assisted with many other church functions.  She enjoyed family, friends, and frequently followed her favorite sports teams. For a number of years she and Dennis spent the winter months in Sarasota, Florida. During
retirement she volunteered at the Crowded Closet in Iowa City.

Ruth is survived by two sisters, Ina Mae Eigsti of Hesston, KS; Myrtle Gardner of Grand Rapids, MN; two daughters, Judy Kliewer (Ardell) of Crawfordsville, IA; Rita Steiner (Don) of Harrisonburg, VA; three sons, Jerry Graber (Mary) of Greenville, IL; Randy Graber (Shirlyn) of Crawfordsville, and Sid Graber (Dyann) of Crawfordsville. She was grandmother to 13 grandchildren, Travis Kliewer (Kristine), Kalona, IA; Brooke Kliewer, Des Moines, IA; Vonya Steiner Womack (Todd), Schwenksville, PA; Ramona Steiner Rios (Pete), Colorado Springs, CO; Cedric Steiner (Christy), Lancaster, PA; Heather Graber Shell (Chris), Fort Wayne, IN; Sara Graber Davis (Steve), Pendleton, IN; Erin Graber Townsend (Caleb), Carmel, IN; Jon Graber (Kristine), Cheyenne, WY; Sarah Graber Holsomback (James), Brewer, ME; Alexander Graber (Ashley) Wichita, KS; Cyrus Graber, Iowa City; Ezra Graber, Iowa City. She is also survived by 22 greatgrandchildren.

Ruth was preceeded in death by her husband, Dennis V. Graber in 1997; brothers William (Bill) Freyenberger, Robert Freyenberger, and Edward Freyenberger.