Ruth Irene Zemke

Ruth Irene (Whitehill) Zemke, 69, of Fort Dodge, IA died Monday, May 16, 2022, at the Paula J Baber Hospice Home with her loving family by her side.  A celebration of life gathering will be held from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM on Saturday, June 11, 2022, at Deercreek Apartments, 700 S. 17th Street.  All who wish to come may do so.   Memorials may be directed to the family.

Ruth was born June 17, 1952, in Fort Dodge to Gerald and Irene (Bollerman) Whitehill.  She graduated from Fort Dodge High School and earned her associates Degree along with her CNA certification.

Ruth was a member of the Epwroth United Methodist Church, Quilding Club, and Campfire.  In her free time Ruth loved to teach Sunday School, sew, quilt and being a Boy Scout Den Mother.  She loved to sew anything from wedding dresses to kids Halloween costumes.  Ruth could sew just about anything.  She would make costumes for local school plays and also the community theater.  She would even make her own patterns out of newspapers.

Ruth is survived by her mother Irene Whitehill; her 5 children, Walter Garrett III of Pocahontas, IA, Angela (Scott) Smith of Mesa, AZ, Joann (Terry) Zemke Chrzan of Fort Dodge, Lisa (Dan) Mills of Emmetsburg, IA, and Samantha (Philip) Zemke of Fort Dodge; 10 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren; Brothers Gerald (Vivian) Whitehill of Fort Dodge, James (Donna) Whitehill of Fort Dodge, Ivan (Eileen) Whitehill of Fort Dodge, and sister Daisy (Dana) Lantz of Fort Dodge.

Ruth was preceded in death by her father Gerald Whitehill, husband Dennis Zemke and son Gerald Kilpatrick.