Obituaries : Ardeth J. Ramsey

Ardeth Ramsey

Ardeth Ramsey

VINTON -- Ardeth Jane Ramsey, 79, died peacefully Friday, November 23, 2012, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 29, 2012, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Vinton with Pastor Mark C. Urlaub officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 28, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton and also one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Interment will be in Taylorsville Cemetery near Arlington, Iowa.

Ardeth was born in Buck Creek ( rural Sumner), Iowa, on April 30, 1933, the daughter of Herbert and Cordelia (Griese) Seehase. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Buck Creek.

She graduated from Sumner High School in 1950. She received her two year degree in Elementary Education from Wartburg College in Waverly in 1952, and earned her Bachelor’s degree from Upper Iowa University in Fayette in 1965.

Ardeth taught school at Arlington Independent School for three years before her marriage to Richard K. Ramsey on June 5, 1955, at St. John Lutheran Church in Buck Creek.

She taught in Rialto, CA, while her husband attended college. They returned to Iowa where she continued to teach at Bellevue Public Schools from 1958 to 1959; Arlington Public School from 1961 to 1968; Oelwein Public School from 1971 to1976; and Vinton Community Schools from 1976 to 1994.

Ardeth was an active member of Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Vinton and an associate member of Peace Lutheran Church in Clayton. She was also involved with many clubs and organizations.

She enjoyed spending time with her family at their summer home on the Mississippi River in Clayton for fifty years. She enjoyed traveling with family and friends, and attending the numerous activities of her grandchildren.

She is survived by her children: William (Barbara) Ramsey of Muscatine; Thomas Ramsey of Washington D.C.; and Patricia (Jonathan) Offt of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren: Craig and Kari Ramsey, Lydia, Evelyn, Josephine and baby boy Offt; brother-in-law Marl (Gretchen) Ramsey of Green Valley, AZ; sister-in-law Sharil (Joe) Ogle of Wadena; and step-sister Pauline Hughes of Des Moines.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
A memorial fund has been established.
Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home of Vinton is caring for Ardeth and her family. Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.