Ruth J. Brandt

Ruth J. Brandt, 75, of McPherson, KS passed away peacefully on Friday, January 24, 2020, surrounded by family at McPherson Hospital.

Ruth was born on August 27, 1944, in Ottumwa, Iowa. She was the daughter of John and Cora McCall and was the youngest of five children.

Ruth attended Central College in McPherson, Kansas where she met the love of her life, Eugene Brandt. She graduated from Central College in the summer of 1964, and they were married on July 5. They were blessed with three daughters, Anita, Debbie and Jeanne. They celebrated their 55th anniversary this last summer.

Ruth stayed home until her girls were in school, then she worked at Central College. In 1978, she began working for Galen Shields as the office manager for State Farm Insurance and worked there for 17 years.

Ruth devoted countless hours to church related activities including teaching Sunday school, serving on the service committee and using her artistic abilities to create decorations for various church events. Eugene and Ruth worked together to take care of the custodial needs of the Free Methodist Church for over forty years. To them, serving the church was one way of giving back to God.

In 1995, Ruth began the career that she loved, which was taking care of her grandchildren. She had the privilege of taking care of five of her seven grandchildren from the time they were born until they went to kindergarten. Caring for her grandchildren was the joy of her life. Many hours were spent teaching them to cook and sew, doing arts and crafts and teaching them about Jesus.

As the grandchildren got older, Ruth and Eugene spent many hours traveling to various activities. They loved sitting in the stands for football, basketball and volleyball games, attending vocal concerts and drama productions, watching dance performances and supporting Special Olympics events.

Family was a huge priority for Ruth. She organized family get-togethers for each grandchild’s birthday and enjoyed family vacations to Florida, Colorado and the lake. The memories made from these family times will continue to hold a special place in our hearts. She was a wife, mother and grandma who exemplified the true meaning of devotion to God and family.

She is survived by: husband, Eugene of the home, three daughters, Anita Wilborn of Wichita, KS, Debbie Pedersen of Salina, KS and Jeanne Zeitlow and husband, Doug, of McPherson, KS; grandchildren, Jackson Wilborn, Annie Wilborn, Abby Stos and husband, Dylan, Megan Pedersen, Andy Zeitlow, Matt Zeitlow and Kaylee Zeitlow; nieces and nephews; and several great and great-great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, three sisters, Helen Luke, Marguerite McDowell and Mary Louise Lasser, a brother, Don McCall, and son-in-law, Kevin Wilborn.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Thursday, January 30, 2020, at Stockham Family Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, January 31, at the McPherson Free Methodist Church with Rev. Tom Griffith and Rev. Tom Mayse officiating. Burial will follow at McPherson Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be given to McPherson Free Methodist Church or Central Christian College in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Ruth J. Brandt please visit our Sympathy Store.