Donovan Ruth

Mr. Donovan Toni Ruth, 80, of Marshalltown, died Wednesday, July 10, 2013, at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown with family at his side. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 15, 2013, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest with full military honors by combined honor guard Veterans of Foreign Wars Harry C. Harter Post #389 and American Legion Frank Lewis Glick Post #46 at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 14, 2013, at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to his family to be designated at a later date. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234. Born Donovan Lee Ruth on December 29, 1932, at the Deaconess Hospital in Marshalltown. He was the only child of Lawrence and Opal (Shetler) Ruth. He received his education first in the #12 rural schools on East Nevada Street and later graduated from the Marshalltown High School Class of 1950. Mr. Ruth then proceeded on to the Marshalltown Junior College and later Coe College in Cedar Rapids. Donovan served our country honorably in the United States Army from 1954 until 1956. On September 14, 1957, at the Little Brown Church, he was united in marriage to Sally Vecera. They shared 56 years together at their home east of Marshalltown on Wallace Avenue where he began farming with his father. Mr. Ruth was a member of the Moose Lodge, American Legion, Farm Bureau, and Redeemer Lutheran Church, and was an active supporter of the American Cancer Society raising awareness and support for this terrible disease. He was also active with the Daffodil Days program through American Cancer Society. He enjoyed traveling, visiting over 70 countries and islands in his lifetime as well as belonging to a wine club and tasting events, all sporting events (ISU, Iowa, Chicago Bulls, Celtics), bowling his whole life, reading, and he absolutely never had a bad day fishing! He treasured his family and his dogs: Tulabelle and Tracker, yellow labs; and Bobo and Phuidi Radaphuidi, the cats. Toni was always known for never turning down a beer or a great Bourbon, one of his favorites. Left to cherish his memory are Sally, his loving wife of nearly 56 years; his daughters: Lori (Don) Carlon of Marshalltown, and Kellie Ruth-Luebbe (Dennis) of Medford, Minnesota; grandchildren: Genessa Wood of Gladbrook, Drew McCoy of Cedar Falls, Matt Carlon of Marshalltown, Alyssa, Ellyn, Jack, Rachael, and Carter Luebbe, all of Medford, Minnesota; great-grandchildren: Mariah and Brooklyn Wood; and many friends and other family members. In death, he rejoined his parents.