Ruth Ida (Robinson) Banning

Banning, Ruth Ida (Robinson) OREGON-Ruth Banning, age 93, passed away on Monday, Aug. 6, 2007, at Sienna Crest Assisted Living Center in Oregon, Wis. She was born on March 19, 1914, on the family farm in Hawkeye, Iowa, the first of five children of Belle and Walter Robinson. Ruth attended Upper Iowa Academy in Fayette, Iowa and received her teaching certificate. She taught elementary education and reading for many years in numerous schools in Iowa. Ruth met John Richard "Dick" Banning at Upper Iowa and they were married on Aug 17, 1938, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa, in a double ceremony with her sister, Edith and Clifford Parker. Ruth and John Richard lived and taught in Clermont, West Union, Clear Lake, Mason City, Indianola and Estherville, Iowa. Throughout her life, Ruth made many friends in the multiple communities where she lived and she stayed in close contact with all of her siblings and their families. For many years, the entire "Robinson clan" got together for holidays. Ruth enjoyed socializing and was sincerely interested in other people. One of her pleasures was reading the daily newspaper. She was a lifelong Methodist Church member and was a true friend to many. She was born in the era of kerosene lamps and at age 92, learned to use a cell phone. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Lynn (Bill) Oertel of Des Moines, Iowa and Jane Banning (Rick Kelley) of Oregon, Wis. Ruth is survived by and was very proud of her grandson, Tyler Kelley of Oregon. She is also survived by her siblings, Edith Parker of Hawkeye, Iowa, Robert (Liz) Robinson of Alta Vista, Ark. and Lloyd (Donna) Robinson of Hawkeye, Iowa; and by many nieces and nephews and other family members. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John Richard, in 1979; sister, Virginia Becker; and brothers-in-law, Glen Becker and Clifford "Pete" Parker. Memorial services will be held at UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, Hawkeye, Iowa, on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2007, at 1:30 p.m. (family gathering at 1 p.m.). The second memorial service will be held at UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, Estherville, Iowa, Monday, Aug. 20, 2007, at 11 a.m. A visitation will be held at the church on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorial donations may be sent to Sienna Crest Assisted Living Center, Attn: Lois Gilbert, 981 Park St., Oregon, WI 53575 or to HospiceCare Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711. Her family wishes to send a heartfelt thanks to Lois Gilbert and the staff of Sienna Crest Assisted Living for their wonderful care and companionship over the last seven months; to HospiceCare nurse Mary Zink and bereavement counselor, Jennifer Nehls and to Drs. Robert Hranac of Estherville, Iowa, William Heifner of Oregon, Wis. and Ronald Richardson of Mayo Clinic.