Ruth Joan Schwabauer

Ruth Joan Schwabauer, age 86, passed away at the Silvercrest Senior Living facility on Thursday, October 14, 2021 surrounded by her surviving children. Born to Rev. Alfred and Mary Young in Stamford, Nebraska on January 21st, 1935, Ruth was the youngest of four sisters and one brother who died as a toddler.

After graduating from Lincoln High School in 1952, Ruth began the nursing program at Bryan Memorial Hospital and graduated as an RN in 1955. Later in life she returned to school and in 1989 earned a BSN from the University of Kansas.

Ruth married Warren Dale Schwabauer on December 30, 1954, and the two were married until Warren’s death in 2012. The couple moved to Overland Park, Kansas in the summer of 1958 and lived in the Kansas City area for the rest of their lives.

The mother of five children (Nancy, Barbara, Warren Jr., David, and Daniel), Ruth excelled at training, correcting, advising, laughing, rolling her eyes, and accepting the teasing of her children with grace and humor.

As a nurse, Ruth worked with patients of all ages through a career that included stints in pediatrics, pain management, and home health. Probably her most fulfilling work came as a school nurse; she talked frequently of her adventures working with young people.

Ruth and Warren were passionate about camping, even when it meant spending two weeks in a tent in Colorado with 5 children. They were also avid bridge players, participating in bridge clubs and playing with friends as often as possible.

For many years she and Warren acted as host parents to a number of exchange students through Youth for Understanding. They enjoyed the opportunity to travel to Germany and meet Nancy's host family prior to escorting European students to the U.S.

Ruth loved Jesus and was a member of Lutheran Church of the Resurrection and, later, Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

Ruth is survived by four children: Barbara, Warren Jr., David, and Daniel, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Nancy.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 23rd, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 7851 W 119th Street, Overland Park, KS 66213.