Ruthmae Karl

Ruthmae “Erpie” Karl, 89, of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at Grandview Heights Rehab and Healthcare in Marshalltown, Iowa. A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2018, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home from 10:30 a.m. with the family leading a time of thoughts and reminiscing until a lunch that will be provided by the family at 12:00. Memorials may be directed to the Animal Rescue League in memory of Ruthmae. For condolences or questions please visit: www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Ruthmae and her family. Ruthmae Freimark was born on August 14, 1928, in La Crosse, Wisconsin; she was the daughter of Ruth Minnie-Emma (Freimark) Phillips. Ruthmae attended school in the area of her birth graduating from Logan High School with the class of 1947. On August 1, 1953, Ruthmae was united in marriage to Joseph John Karl Jr. in La Crosse, Wisconsin. In 1964 Joseph and Ruthmae moved to Marshalltown to work at Marshalltown Instruments. She had been a member of the Local UAW. She loved to garage sale and enjoyed bowling, archery and hockey and always enjoyed a good book. Ruthmae will be remembered for her willingness to help anyone in a time of need. Left to cherish Ruthmae’s memory are her children: her beautiful daughter, Kristi Karl, of Marshalltown; sons, Scott Karl of Monroe, Iowa and Rick (Kris) Karl of Hemet, California; niece Kelsey Thomas; and brother, Wayne (Kathy) Phillips of Prescott, Arizona. In death Ruthmae rejoined her mother, Ruth; husband, Joseph; son, Joseph; and brother, Garry Phillips.