Karen R. Ruse

Karen Ruse, 85, of rural Letts, passed away on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at Wapello Specialty Care.  Inurnment will be held at a later date in Columbus City Cemetery.  A memorial fund has been established at the funeral home in Karen’s name.  Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Muscatine is caring for Karens’ family and her arrangements.   Sympathy notes may be left at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.

Karen R. Reid was born on a farm near Letts, Iowa on January 20, 1939, the daughter of Orville T. Reid, Sr. and Ruth Alice (Littrel) Reid.  After graduating from high school, she worked at a grocery store in Muscatine.  On September 28, 1957, Karen was united in marriage to Stanley Ruse in Titonka, Iowa and the couple farmed in the Titonka area for many years.  They had two children, Leroy and Steven.  In 1994 they moved to the farm by Letts, where they continued to farm for many years.  Karen loved animals and decorating her home.

Those left to honor her memory are sons, Leroy (Janelle) Ruse of Muscatine; Steven (Mary) Ruse of Oak Hill, FL; three granddaughters, Kristy Ruse, Samantha Devenport, Jo Anna Voorhees; two great-grandsons, Samuel and Joshua and siblings, Janice Hahn, Tom (Iona) Reid and Judy (Gary) Streat.  Karen will also be deeply missed by her schnauzer, Phoebe. 

Karen was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Stanley Ruse; siblings, Garry Reid, Jane Fuller, Denis Reid; brother-in-law, Alan Hahn; sister-in-law, Carolyn Reid; daughter-in-law, Andria Ruse and grandson, Travis Ruse.

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