Ruby Mae Rausch

Ruby Mae Rausch age 95 of Nashua, IA, died Thursday, November 27, 2025, at her home surrounded by her loving family.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, January 24, 2026, at Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory – Olson Chapel in Nashua with Rev. Drew McHolm officiating.

Friends are invited to greet the family from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Saturday, January 24, 2026, at the funeral home in Nashua, before the Memorial Service.

Ruby Mae Rausch, a cherished soul known for her kindness and adventurous spirit, passed away peacefully on November 27, 2025, in Nashua, Iowa. Born on August 25, 1930, in rural Bremer County, Iowa, the daughter of Emil and Florence (Shallock), Schluter. Ruby’s life was a tapestry of love, dedication, and service, woven with the threads of her passions and the warmth of her heart.

Ruby’s journey began as a bright young girl in Nashua, where she graduated from Nashua High School in 1948. It was in downtown Nashua that she met the love of her life, Harold “Holly” Rausch. After sharing coffee and conversation, their love story blossomed, leading them to the altar of St. John United Church of Christ – Pleasant Hill in rural Nashua on December 10, 1950. Their bond was further solidified when Ruby bravely moved to Puerto Rico to be with Holly during his military deployment. The young couple’s love and resilience were exemplified during this adventurous year abroad, laying a strong foundation for their growing family.

Upon Holly’s discharge, the couple returned to the United States, settling in Burlington, Iowa, where they welcomed their beloved son, Stephen. During Stephen’s early years, Ruby devoted herself to motherhood, filling their home with love, laughter, and the occasional spoiling of her son, which she later joyfully extended to her grandchildren.

With Stephen’s start in school, Ruby rediscovered her own passion for learning and community service by joining the workforce as a library aide, just two blocks away from home. Her dedication to the role was evident, and it wasn’t long before she returned to her roots in Nashua. There, Ruby continued to enrich the minds of young children as a treasured library aide for Nashua Public Schools.

Ruby’s commitment to literacy and community engagement eventually led to her becoming the esteemed librarian at the Nashua Public Library. For over a decade, she was the guardian of knowledge and stories, fostering a love for reading in countless individuals. Her retirement marked the end of a professional era, but her influence as a friendly and kind-hearted librarian remained.

Christian faith was the cornerstone of Ruby’s life, guiding her actions and providing comfort and strength throughout her years. Her interests were as varied as they were rich; Ruby was an avid reader, a studious genealogist, a skilled sewer and knitter, and a lover of flower gardening. Her zest for travel took her and Holly around the world, creating memories that spanned continents and cultures.

Ruby’s legacy is one of unwavering kindness, a friendly nature that made everyone feel at home, and an adventurous spirit that inspired all who knew her. Her life was a beautiful example of love in action, and she will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and the many lives she touched through her work and her warmth.

Ruby is survived by one son, Stephen Rausch of Nashua, IA; two grandchildren, Robert Rausch of Nashua, IA, and Margaret (Clay) Rausch of Roseville, MI; one sister, Barbara (Steve) Gustafson of Lakewood Ranch, FL; and one sister-in-law, Jeanette Schluter of Clarksville, IA.  

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harold “Holly” Rausch, in 2021; two brothers, Howard Schluter, and Bernard (Shirley) Schluter.