Jo Ann Ruther

Jo Ann Ruther, 88, of Ogden, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the Eastern Star Masonic Home in Boone, Iowa.

A celebration of Jo Ann’s life will be held at a later date. Carson-Stapp Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Jo Ann Weyer, was born on November 5, 1937 in Monticello, Iowa. Jo Ann was a “practice baby” in the Home Economics program at Iowa State College (University), where students cared for infants from orphanages, until she was adopted in 1938 by Orville V. Weyer and Dorothy M. (Frazier) Weyer of Woodward, Iowa. Jo Ann graduated from Woodward High School with the class of 1956.

On July 16, 1960, Jo Ann was united in marriage to Alan A. Ruther of Boxholm, Iowa at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Boxholm.

Jo Ann worked for nearly 20 years at the Ogden Manor (Accura Healthcare of Ogden) in Ogden and then worked for over six years at the Iowa Department of Transportation in Ames until her retirement.

She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ogden.

Jo Ann and Alan enjoyed attending Knoxville sprint car races and listening to country music. Jo Ann enjoyed crocheting, knitting, and reading, but was happiest spending time with her husband, children and their spouses, and her grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Jo Ann was preceded in death by her sister Janice Horton.

Survivors include her loving husband of 65 years, Alan Ruther; her four children, Mark Ruther and his wife Susan, and their children Rachel and Caleb and his fiancé Victoria, all of San Antonio, TX; Carol Smith and her husband Dr. Roderick Smith, and their sons Jonathon and Jarrett, all of Fenton, MI; Marva Ruther of Ames, IA; and Paul Ruther and his sons, Thomas MacTavish of Castle Rock, CO and Noah Ruther of Iowa City, IA.

Memorials may be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ogden, Iowa.