Ruth Kimberley Mcginnis

*Please note that the date of death for Ruth has been changed in order to reflect the services being at a later date.* Ruth McGinnis passed away April 22, 2021. However, in order for everyone to find her service information and obituary more easily on our most recent, pop-up obituary web page. Please disregard this as she passed away April 22nd.   Late Thursday, April 22, 2021, a star fell from the sky as Ruth Kimberley McGinnis left this world.  Her star lit the sky for 94 years. Ruth’s memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 3rd at the First United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at the Riverside Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Ruth's name may be directed to Riverside Cemetery. To send Ruth’s family a condolence, please visit mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Born March 27, 1927 on a farm near Collins, Iowa, she learned to work hard in and around the family farm, mainly in the garden, kitchen and in the household with the endless chores necessary to keep a family of 11 running smoothly. Those kitchen duties turned her into a wonderful cook. Throughout Ruth’s life, her desire to feed anyone that walked into her home was legendary. Sitting around her table for one of her epic meals was a memorable experience. As a teenager, Ruth excelled at basketball becoming a standout on her high school basketball team. Because of the war and a shortage of teachers, she soon became the team’s de facto coach, hiring referees and booking basketball games with other schools in the area. Ruth went on to attend AIB Business College in Des Moines, Iowa on a basketball scholarship. After graduating, she became an executive secretary to an attorney in Ames. She was so proud of her time there, helping to track down relevant information and precedents on cases as well as managing a busy law office. It was there that the love of her life walked through the door. Ruth married Leroy E. McGinnis, a Marshalltown attorney, April 28, 1952 in Sausalito, CA. The two of them had three daughters; Nancy, Renee and Sue Ann. Bud, as LeRoy was known, was also a semi-professional magician. He and Ruth entertained audiences far and wide with their stage appearances.  Eventually the three daughters joined the performances and the act became, The Magic Macs. It was due to Ruth’s devotion and ability to manage the family that enabled Bud to create a dazzling production full of hocus pocus and wonder. Ruth became a widow at age 41; Bud died suddenly in 1968, leaving Ruth to raise her daughters 13, 12 and 10. Drawing upon her strong inner conviction, Ruth reentered the work force eventually becoming a licensed insurance agent, a licensed realtor and later an independent business woman. Possessing a keen business sense, Ruth owned rental property in Iowa City, IA. At every turn, her goal was to increase revenue and develop systems to preserve her assets. Over the years she added value to her property by single handedly reinvesting and improving it without borrowing against it. She was very proud of that fact. Ruth’s connection to Iowa City fostered a fierce love of Hawkeye football and especially of Hawkeye men’s basketball. In later years, she was a voracious reader, often reading two or more books a week. As her family grew by eight grandchildren and sons in law, Ruth was a beloved Nana who jumped at the chance to babysit and spend time with all of her grandkids.  She had a special connection with each one of them. She saw the potential in every grandchild. She recognized, fostered and cherished the unique qualities each of them individually exhibited. Ruth had an unshakeable loyalty to her family. Her brothers, her sisters, her nieces and nephews were loved with this devotion as well. Ruth will be remembered for her beauty, strong will, independence and intellect. Her deep spirituality sustained her throughout her life. She thanked God when times were good, and she turned to God as her source of strength when times were tough. She was dedicated to her family and this is reflected in the sorrow her children, grandchildren and extended family are feeling at having to say goodbye to such a bright light in this world. They’ll find solace in her own words, “I’ve had a wonderful life.” Left to mourn her passing are her daughters, Renee (Jay) Leavy and their children, Kyle (Torrey) Leavy, Ann Marie (Wes) Whitt, Kevin (Kelsey) Leavy all of San Diego, CA; Nancy McGinnis, and her family Olivia (James) Menage, Alexander (Brittney) Menage, Henry Peiffer all of Moline, IL, Matthew (Janet) Harris, Littleton, CO and Michael Harris, Davenport, IA; three great granddaughters; a sister, Alice Kimberley, Lawrence, KS and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, her daughter, Sue Ann McGinnis Harris and seven brothers and sisters.