RUTH RICHTER DAVID

RUTH RICHTER DAVID

Cedar Rapids

10/13/1951 – 6/18/2017

Ruth Ann Richter was born in Racine, Wis., the youngest of three children to Robert D. and Jeanette M. (nee McKeown) Richter.

Due to her father's employment as a supervisor

with the Milwaukee Road Railroad, the family moved multiple times. Ruth lived in Wisconson; Illinois; Deer Lodge, Mont.; Sioux City and finally Cedar Rapids. When her dad was yet again transferred from Cedar Rapids/Marion, Ruth decided to stay in Cedar Rapids in 1969. She attended parochial schools until her senior year when she graduated from Kennedy in 1969. She

attended Cedar Rapids Business College for a brief

time and worked in secretarial positions, including

Carpenter's Union Local 308 as administrator of the health and welfare fund and a short stint at the state of

Iowa Health Department, when lupus affected her. It was a frightening time. Her sister Peggy succumbed to lupus less than two years before. After several flares

of lupus, Ruth developed the philosophy that such a

condition deserved a certain amount of respect. She learned how to "read" her body to the point she was able to "feel" a flare coming on, and many times sought out the wonderful physicians who often got her through her flares.

The ICU nurses who cared for her sister were the

catalyst for Ruth to go on in her education and

eventually become one of those ICU nurses. She

completed her nursing education at Kirkwood Community College in 1989.

Ruth was employed at Mercy Medical Center for

nearly 30 years, excelling in her position as a registered nurse. She worked eight years in the float pool, where she cared for patients in all areas of the hospital. After "floating," she decided to settle down in one area, ICU/CCU. Ruth thrived in the critical care atmosphere.

Ruth loved her patients and their families. Her husband often said, "Nursing was her first love, I was second!" Even dealing with a chronic illness, she put her all into her career.

Ruth donated herself to UDFI so others can learn from her. Ruth, my wife, I would do it all over again. Love, Michael.

Ruth is survived by her loving and caring husband, Michael; her special babies (the cats), Wynuki and Lyngsai; and her outdoor cats; her son, Scott (Katie), Anamosa; her daughter, Michelle; grandsons, Nathan and Christian; her brother, Tom Richter (Martha) and

family, Milwaukee, Wis.; loving mother-in-law, Lorice; and entire David family, who loved her strength and courage.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Jeanette Richter; and sister, Peggy Richter.

A memorial service will be determined at a later date.