Ruby L. Dencklau

December 23, 1928 - January 19, 2020

Ruby L. Dencklau, 91, of Fort Dodge, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, on Sunday, January 19, 2020, at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home. A service celebrating her life will be at 10:30 am Saturday, January 25, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Fort Dodge, with the Rev. Nicholas Thackery and Rev. William Van Nostrand officiating. Interment will follow in the Colfax Township Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 – 7 pm on Friday, January 24 at Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Memorials will be left to “The Lutheran Hour” radio ministry and the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home. Ruby is survived by her children, Roxanne (Duane) Amhof, Fort Dodge, IA; Lyle (Cheryl) Dencklau, Valentine, NE; Dr. Vernon (Denise) Dencklau, Fort Gratiot, MI; her 13 grandchildren; Rachel, Jacob, Sarah, Hannah, Aaron, Dena, Gretchen, Chelsea, Whitney, Shawn, Lance, Elizabeth, and Alexander; her 5 great grandchildren; Cameron, Quinton, Avery, Holly, James; along with sisters-in-law Betty Dencklau, Delores Kinne and Marie Hockemeier- Ferguson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbert John Dencklau, her parents and brothers; Walter Kinne, Verne Kinne, Clarence Kinne and Rev. Lawrence Kinne, her sister Dorothy Sutherland, great grandson Fletcher Dencklau, her brothers-in-law; Eugene Dencklau, Raymond Dencklau, Everett Dencklau, Clarence Hochemeier, and Max Sutherland, and sisters-in-law; Hazel Dencklau, Irene Dencklau, Marie Kinne, Verjean Kinne, and Margaret Kinne. Ruby Louise Kinne, the daughter of Franz and Matilda (Nahnsen) Kinne, was born December 23, 1928 in Gowrie, IA. She graduated from Gowrie High School in 1946. On July 27, 1948, Ruby was united in marriage to Wilbert John Dencklau at the Lutheran Church in Churdan, IA. Ruby worked alongside Wilbert on their farm northeast of Fort Dodge from 1948 until 1971 when they moved into town. In addition to her being an extraordinary homemaker, Ruby also worked at Arnold Palmer’s Cleaners, Ellen’s Care Center as a nurse’s aide, and Jamar’s Drive Inn restaurant. Ruby was a longtime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Vincent, where she was involved in Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, Lutheran Laymens League and Ladies Aide. She also taught Sunday School and served as the church organist for 23 years. When St. John’s Lutheran Church closed in August of 2017, Ruby became a member at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge. She lived for the joy of serving others in many ways. Perhaps the best example is through the love and passion she had for baking. Whether it was her pies, cinnamon rolls, or cookies, they all tasted a little sweeter because she sprinkled the key ingredient of love on top. She loved spending time with her family and, in later years, especially enjoyed being a daily part of the lives of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Everyone loved going to Grandma’s house on earth and are excited to know we’ll join her someday in her Heavenly home!