Ruth A. Rea, 86, of Bernard, Iowa, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at home on Monday, May 13, 2024.

Visitation for Ruth will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Reiff Funeral Home in Peosta, Iowa, where a prayer service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Visitation will also be held after 9 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home.

Mass of Christian Burial for Ruth will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fillmore, Iowa, with Rev. Mark Osterhaus presiding and Mark Otting as assisting deacon. Burial will be held in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Fillmore, Iowa.

Ruth was born April 1, 1938, daughter of Lillard H. Kieler and Hazel H. (Lenstra) Kieler in Dubuque, Iowa. She attended Holy Trinity Elementary School and graduated from Immaculate Conception High School both in Dubuque, Iowa.  She was united in marriage to Patrick Rea on July 8,1961, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Dubuque, Iowa.  She, along with Pat farmed and ran a seed business in the Bernard area.

She enjoyed flowers, her flower and vegetable gardens, making cookies, biking, wintering in Florida, and mostly loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Ruth was a member of the Sacred Heart Parish in Fillmore, Iowa.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Patrick J. Rea of Bernard; three daughters, Suellen (John) Lathrum of Johnston, Carolyn (Bryon) Kelchen of Cascade, and Sharon (Dan) Donovan of Dubuque; five grandchildren, Andy (Beth) Kelchen, Megan (Andrew) Smith, Katie (Justin) Wolber, Daniel and Joseph Lathrum; 4 step grandchildren, Andie, Alaina, Bridget, and Riley Donovan; 5 great grandchildren; In-laws, Gene Sullivan of Dubuque, Nancy Oglesby of Cuba City, WI, Joyce (Al) Koster of Asbury, and Lois Wubben of Oregon, WI, and Gerry Rea of Cascade.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lillard H. Kieler and Hazel H. Kieler-Meyer; Step father, Lawrence Meyer; one son, Steven P. Rea on May 6, 2003; two sisters, Jean (Mark) Adams, and Marilyn Sullivan; father and mother-in-law, Oliver and Florence (McCarthy) Rea; In-laws, James (Valeria) Rea, David Rea, Michael “Mickey” Rea, Lois Ann Rea OSF, Kay (Paul) McDonnell, Anna Ruth (James) O’Shea, Mary (Willie) George, Jim Oglesby, and Ray Wubben.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be given to Aquin School in memory of Ruth Rea.

A video tribute may be viewed, and online condolences sent to the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com