- Date Of Birth: July 31, 1922
- Date Of Death: December 13, 2012
- State: Iowa
Ruth Jensen Schwarck, age 90, of the Lakes Area, formerly of Spencer, passed away on Thursday, December 13, 2012. She was born on July 31, 1922, in Sheldon, Iowa, to Julius and Erma Jensen. Ruth attended school in Sheldon, until the family moved to Spencer, where she graduated from Spencer High School. Bill and Ruth were united in marriage on August 26, 1943, in Louisville, KY. After Bill’s return from World War II, they made their home in West Okoboji and Spencer, IA. Ruth worked at KICD and was Convention Manager at the New Inn Resort for 25 years. She was also employed by Village West, Arnolds Park Amusement Park and most recently, the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce. Ruth served as the President of the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce, long time member of Grace United Methodist Church, a Beta Sigma Phi, VFW Auxiliary member and a member of the Board of Directors of the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce. Ruth was a volunteer at the Okoboji Welcome Center and the Chamber, where she annually chaired the fireworks committee. Her great love outside of her family was the Iowa Great Lakes. October 2001, Ruth was awarded Iowa’s Number One Friend of Tourism at the annual State Tourism Conference. She also was a member of the Advisory Board for the Hotel/Motel Restaurant Department of Iowa Great Lakes Community College, where she received many recognitions for the role she played in developing their program. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill; daughter-in-law, Janet Schwarck; great-grandson, Derek Schwarck; and her siblings. Ruth is survived by her sons, Terry Schwarck, and his wife, Karen of Punta Gorda, FL ; Greg Schwarck of Minneapolis, MN; Jeff Schwarck, and his wife, Andrea of Spirit Lake Iowa; her daughter, Susan Schwarck of Lee’s Summit, MO; 9 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.