Ruthanne Harstad

RUTHANNE HARSTAD

Cedar Rapids

Ruthanne Harstad, 62, of Des Moines, died Monday, July 20, 2015, due to ovarian cancer compounded by a dozen years of chemotherapy, chemo-induced kidney failure and decades of multiple sclerosis. She was born on Cedar Rapids on Aug. 21, 1952, to Ortha R. Berger Harstad and Kenneth R. Harstad. Ruthanne's beloved life partner of 30 years and wife of five, Pat Headley, survives Ruthanne, along with two daughters, Glori Headley-Johnson (Ottumwa) and Chrystal Headley Danner (What Cheer); sons-in-law, Kevin Johnson and DJ Danner; and five grandchildren, Jarrett and Wyatt Johnson, Adam Headley and Ellie and Carl Danner.

Ruthanne's life was full of travel, exploration, learning and teaching. In high school, she competed in swimming and speech activities. Between her junior and senior year of high school, she spent the summer in the jungle of Guyana, South America, a life-changing experience. Her first year of college occurred at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Neb. In the coming years, she traveled, worked various jobs and learned scuba diving which she enjoyed for many years. She returned to college in 1973 and completed an associate degree in 1974 at Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids. During this time she rode her bicycle 22 miles round trip to classes. In that intervening summer, Ruthanne attended NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) North Cascades Expedition participating in a six-week expedition learning leadership, backpacking, rock, snow and ice climbing. The following year she became the first woman from Iowa to solo through-hike the Appalachian Trail, 2,100 miles from Georgia to Maine, carrying more than half her body weight an average of 21 miles per day through the mountains of 14 states.

In 1976, Ruthanne completed her bachelor's degree in outdoor recreation through independent study at University Without Walls, Providence R.I. In that year, the U.S. Postal Service in Cedar Rapids hired her to be a letter carrier, one of her favorite jobs among the more than 100 she had in about 50 careers. She left there in the fall of 1983 and began graduate studies at the University of Iowa. She received a master of arts in English in 1985 and began teaching speech, composition and literature at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa. She and Pat Headley met that same year. In 1987, Ruthanne received an Ed.S. (specialist in education) in higher education at the University of Iowa. Two years later, Ruthanne and Pat moved to Des Moines so Ruthanne could begin teaching at Des Moines Area Community College. That same year she volunteered as a wilderness patrol ranger for the summer with the U.S. Forest Service in the Trinity Alps Wilderness in far northern California. In the summer of 1990, she was hired to head the wilderness patrol. When fall came, she was back in the classroom at DMACC teaching composition, speech, women's literature, black literature, humanities through the arts and introduction to education. She was also involved in International Year at DMACC and in 1998 was selected as DMACC's first faculty member to teach in the study abroad program in Cambridge, England, for a semester. She qualified for instructing recreation and leadership courses at DMACC by earning a second master's degree, this one in leisure studies at the University of Iowa in 1990. In 2007, Ruthanne was awarded the inaugural Tapestry Award from DMACC in recognition of her long-standing commitment to diversity.

From the 1970s through the 1990s, she taught courses – usually as a volunteer, though occasionally as a part-time employee through nature centers, YWCAs, municipal swimming pools, community centers, youth enrichment programs and libraries in numerous fields: weightlifting, basic swimming, water safety, Leave No Trace ethics, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, spelunking, winter preparedness and dividend reinvestment programs. In 2000, Ruthanne took H&R Block's 12-week course and began preparing tax returns. She especially enjoyed helping people with their finances and continued this every spring through 2015.

Pat and Ruthanne traveled and explored many areas of North America and the United Kingdom. They truly enjoyed the bucolic beauty of southern Wales and frequently spent time in the Canadian Maritimes, particularly Prince Edward Island. Ruthanne had hiked in all 50 states and backpacked in 34 as well as in most Canadian provinces. When she visited friends abroad, she joined them in hiking or backpacking adventures-Jamaica, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Wales. And in the U.S. and Canada, one wouldn't be surprised to find her in various places biking, hiking or backpacking, either solo or with friends. She led many backpacking and hiking trips for women of all ages in the Midwest and West, many with Pat. She was active in the formation of Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids.

Ruthanne was always gregarious and friendly. She was a lifelong activist for social justice issues, from helping her family run weekend workshops on black heritage and white racism during the 1960s and early 1970s to much involvement in feminist causes and environmental awareness. During the bicentennial era, she chartered several buses so local people could support the Equal Rights Amendment ratification effort in Illinois. She lived simply and was a role model for her friends and acquaintances. She regularly connected with legislators on multiple issues and encouraged others to do the same. Ruthanne contributed time and money to many causes she believed in and with Pat, started college funds for 26 young people. Together, they supported local drama groups with regular attendance and financial contributions and they could be found at the Varsity Theater almost every week for a foreign or independent film and frequently at local musical performances.

She was a lifelong learner, attending lectures and taking classes of interest, e.g., belly dancing, fiddling, and juggling. She studied Spanish up until her death. Ruthanne was able to grasp complex concepts and had an incredible memory. Even during her decades-long illnesses she excelled beyond most who knew her. And she could pun with the best of them.

Ruthanne developed multiples sclerosis six years before being diagnosed in 1990. The last 15 years of her life, she dealt with two primary cancers, breast and ovarian (BRCA 2), and increasingly limiting symptoms from MS.

Although raised a Lutheran, Ruthanne became a Unitarian Universalist in her adult years, beginning at People's UU in Cedar Rapids, and had been a member of First Unitarian Church in Des Moines for 26 years, where she has served on several finance and social justice committees.

Ruthanne and Pat are grateful for the numerous caring and competent medical personnel who worked with them for many years and appreciate the services of Mayo Clinic, the Lymphedema Clinic, and the John Stoddard Cancer Center at UnityPoint Medical Center.

Donations in Ruthanne's memory are encouraged toward causes she supported: Iowa Abortion Access Fund (P.O. Box 721, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406); OneIowa (49 S.W. Eighth St., Des Moines, IA 50309); Iowa ACLU (505 Fifth Ave., Suite 901, Des Moines, IA 50309); Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (505 Fifth Ave., Suite 444, Des Moines, IA 50309); Planned Parenthood of the Heartland (1000 E. Army Post Rd., Des Moines, IA 50315); Iowa African-American Museum and Cultural Center (55 12th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401). A living memorial was held June 28 in Des Moines and her body was cremated by the Cremation Society of Iowa. Ruthanne's brain and central nervous system were donated to the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Research Center.