Ruth Elizabeth Needham

Ruth Elizabeth Needham, 93, of Marshalltown, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, December 30, 2021 accompanied by her loving family. Funeral Mass for Ruth will take place on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at 10:30 A.M. at St. Francis of Assisi Parish – St. Henry Catholic Church. She will be laid to rest at Rose Hill Memorial Garden. Friends and family are also invited to attend a visitation Tuesday evening, January 4 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. with a vigil prayer service beginning at 7:00 P.M. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to the family for designation to St. Francis of Assisi Parish. For questions or condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. For those unable to attend, services will be available at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell-Family-Funeral-Home-99280714047/ . Born February 8, 1928 in Marshalltown, she was one of 12 children born to James Harold and Helen Josephine (Musil) Bulanek. She grew up in Marshalltown and graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic School. After meeting the love of her life, Floyd Needham, they were united in marriage on April 4, 1948 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. While spending the majority of their beautiful life together in Marshalltown and Melbourne, they also experienced domestic and international travel through their involvement through L.I.C.A. In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, Ruth dedicated over 40 years to Lennox Industries. After retirement, she and Floyd became “snow birds,” spending their winters in Arizona before his passing in 1994. Faith was important to Ruth and she was a member of St. Francis Parish – St. Henry’s Catholic Church and the CCW. She enjoyed attending the annual “retiree luncheon” for former Lennox employees. Ruth loved spending time outside doing yardwork and taking care of the Bulanek home place along with her sister, Veronica. She also enjoyed crafting and visiting with her grandchildren. More than anything else, she loved her family deeply. Those left to cherish her memory are her two children: Rita Needham DeLorenzo of Marshalltown and Michael (Kristen) Needham of Melbourne; four grandchildren: Raymond (Chelsea) Junge of Nowthen, MN, Raelene Needham of Marshalltown, Cole Needham (Madisen) of Los Angeles, CA and Emma Thye of Melbourne; six great-grandchildren: Kyler, Josselyn, Lavin, Quinn, Cora and Lydia; three siblings: Evelyn Talbert of Lakewood, CA, Bernard Bulanek of Milwaukee, WI and Bernadette (Frank) Overman of Council Bluffs; and several other relatives. In eternal life she is reunited with her beloved husband, Floyd; her parents, James and Helen and her siblings: Lawrence in infancy, Josephine, Leo, Joe, Harold, Veronica, Dorothy and Catherine.