Ruby Jean (Snitker) Koenig

Ruby Jean (Snitker) Koenig was born March 9, 1929 to August and Martha Snitker on the family farm in Allamakee County near Waukon, Iowa. She died Saturday, October 2, 2021, at the Postville Good Samaritan Society.  She was 92 years old.

Ruby was baptized and confirmed at the Salem United Church of Christ in Ludlow.  She attended Allamakee County Schools of Iowa and received her Eighth Grade Diploma on May 26, 1943 in Waukon, Iowa.

On April 10, 1947 Ruby was married to Loren William Koenig in the Salem United Church of Christ, south of Waukon. To this union four sons and one daughter were born. The couple farmed together in the Castalia area for over 58 years. They moved to Postville in 1980.  Ruby’s smile was contagious and she brought joy and energy to all those who were in her company.   For  28 years, Ruby was there to greet everyone who entered the doors of the IGA Store in Postville.  She was well known for her fabulous pies, cinnamon and pecan rolls, and other baked goods.  Her love of the farm was evident in the wonderful cow collection she proudly displayed.  You could also count on a dozen or two eggs could be delivered at all times as she supplied thousands of eggs to friends and neighbors over the years. She loved volunteering for many years including sing-a-longs at the Postville Good Samaritan Society.  She loved spending time with family and friends, always cooking up a great meal for all.  Her life was enriched and blessed with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren and each of them held a very special place in her arms and in her heart. 

Ruby was a woman with a very strong faith and daily lived as a faithful servant to our Lord.  She was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia where she was a member of WELCA, served on many committees and taught Sunday School for many years.  She was a founding member of the Winneshiek County Historical Society and was honored to be named Grand Marshall for the Castalia Tractor Days.  In her later years, she enjoyed being a member of the Red Hat Club.

Preceding her in death are her husband Loren, daughter Ronelle, father and mother August and Martha Snitker, father in-law and mother in-law Fred and Alma Koenig, one brother Ralph, sisters and brother-in laws, Mildred (Roy) Sohn, Inez (Gus) Gerleman, Lorraine (Elmer) Kruger, Norma (Niles) Kruger, Florence (Leonard) Koenig and LaVerne (Don) Koester and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Harlan (Lorraine) Koenig, Ardith Koenig, Milton (Gwenn) Koenig, Earl (Bernice) Koenig.

Ruby is survived by her four sons and daughters-in-law:  Roger and Janet, Ossian, IA, Robert and Kathleen, Cedar Rapids, IA, Dennis and Sandy, Postville, IA and Michael and Janice, Castalia, IA ; one brother-in-law Verne Koenig, Decorah; Nine grandchildren: Justin (Kim) Koenig, Jill (Chris) Pasbrig, Nicole (David) Unkrich, Melanie (Nathan) Hessler, Ryan (Lindsay) Koenig, Misty Koenig, Travis (Dawn) Koenig, Luther (Mindy) Koenig, Marcee (Mitchell) Markussen;  seventeen great grandchildren: Lauren and Elizabeth Pasbrig, Bryson, Kellen and Natalie Unkrich, John, Grace, Samuel and Elizabeth Hessler, Ava and Kaitlyn Koenig, Brett Bodensteiner, Hailey (Dakota) Holthaus, Isabella Koenig, Benjamin, Nelson and Adele Koenig, Dom Schnuelle; two great-great grandchildren Kade and Rhyatt Bodensteiner and many nieces and nephews.

Her favorite hymn was “Shall We Gather At the River.”  Sending her with our love, Ruby now gathers with all those who are already waiting for her.  What a glorious day it must be! 

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date to be determined.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Postville Ambulance Service.

Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Postville, Iowa is helping the family with the arrangements.

Click here to visit the Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service website.