Ruby Mae Sagner

Ruby Mae (Schnack) Sagner, 93, of Wichita, Kansas, joined her Lord and Savior on Friday, May 24, 2024. She was born in Princeton, Iowa on January 17, 1931 to the late Karl Heinrich and Emma Amelia Sophia Johanna (Ahrens) Schnack.

Memories begin in a one room schoolhouse at Princeton Elementary, before moving on to Frank L. Smart Jr. High where after school and on weekends, around age 13, she and her friend Joyce met their dates at the movies. They sat in the back row, kissing, and one time, Ruby’s date, Melvin, handed her a note at school which said, “Could you please wear invisible lipstick? My mother is asking questions.” Thankful for the humor, it’s also the memories when not at the theatre as she and her friends started a club called, “The Hep Cats.” They had roller skating parties and dances, often using the money earned to donate to the Red Cross. These ladies all became lifelong friends and had reunions throughout their lives.

In high school, her boyfriend picked her and two of her friends up for school and one day, Lois suggested they skip school and drive to Princeton for the day. Alberta said, “No,” so, they dropped her off at school and Ruby wasn’t about to let her boyfriend and Lois go alone, so she agreed to join them. When she arrived back home, around 6 p.m., her grandfather was sitting on the porch. He said, “Well, did you have fun?” Upon entering the house, the phone was ringing and it was her sister, Helen. She said, “Where have you been? Mom and Dad are out looking for you.” Ruby immediately ran to her friend Alberta’s house who made it worse by saying, “The police are looking for you too.”

This really scared Ruby, so she went to the Old Mill Ice Cream Company, where she worked, and hid in the basement. Then, at 7 p.m, the manager told her, “You should go home now,” so she did. When she got home, her father was in the kitchen and simply said, “Hi Bum.” She was sorry that she hurt her parents and she never skipped school again. She graduated from Davenport High School in 1949.

While working at Old Mill, a handsome man, with black wavy hair, and dressed in his Navy pea coat, came in. Ruby thought he looked so handsome, so she told the others, “I’m waiting on him, not you.” He kept returning and each time, she gave him bigger scoops of ice cream, until she sweetened him up enough to ask her out. She was 15, fell in love, and at age 19, she married Alfred Hans Sagner, on June 9, 1950, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa. Afterwards, they enjoyed the sights as they honeymooned at Lake of the Ozarks, in cabin #9, where they went fishing all week in a little motor boat. They also fished at night, where on one occasion, they got to the other side and on the way back, the motor cut out and they had to row all the way back in. From then on, they were a pair meant to be.

Once back home to Davenport, Al went on to work at a mechanics shop, before becoming a firefighter, and Ruby’s bookkeeping skills came into play as a secretary with Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company. Once established, the pair welcomed daughter, Debbie in 1955 and son, Dave in 1957. Ruby was made to be a mom. She was loving, kind, and loved her children dearly. So much so, with her mother being a widow, Al suggested Emma move in with them to help with the children, and she agreed. Things were good, however, because of Debbie’s severe asthma, they needed a drier and warmer climate, so in 1964, they packed up and moved to Long Beach, California, where she had a sister living. No jobs, no plans, just went.

Ruby took classes in bookkeeping at Long Beach Community College which helped in her future career at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company, where she became a corporate secretary. She was awarded a “Value in Performance Award.” When not working, Ruby went to her roots where she learned to dance from her brother, Bill. Al was also a wonderful dancer, and he and Ruby made many happy memories on the dance floor. In fact, they won several awards for their favorites, the Waltz and the Polka. When not on the dance floor, Ruby loved to travel and she and Al visited 48 states and 15 countries. Taking in the memories of what each destination had to offer. And if seeing the beauty of the countries wasn’t lucky enough, Ruby could enter any raffle and she almost always won with her biggest win being a trip to Finland. But let’s add another element, such as cards. She was sharp and competitive and she and Al had a set of friends they always played with, a pastime she continued while living at Grasslands.

When not at the card tables or on the dancefloor, Ruby was a talented cross stitcher, creating over 30 beautiful canvases. She also knitted afghans and blankets for all of her grandchildren. Yet, these things were all secondary to her faith. Being raised Lutheran, she believed, yet it was in the 1980’s when she received Christ in her heart at a Billy Graham Crusade. She outwardly showed her love of God and kept His commandments. She knew Jesus was with her all her days and He answered so many of her prayers. This is how, from growing up with a difficult childhood, living through the Great Depression, being poor, eating rations, working since she was 9, she was able to thrive. Her faith was first and foremost and she was rewarded greatly for her discipleship with Him by her side.

Ruby and Al later moved to Hemet, California where she was the secretary on the board of directors for Sierra Dawn Estates where they lived. We spoke about her working since age 9 and she retired fifty years later at age 59. Ruby Mae created a beautiful family, made lifelong friends, and was proud to spend these last few years with her loving companion, Ed Komp. It is from her deep passion for life that her story will carry on.

Those who are left to carry her legacy are her children, David (Eileen) Sagner of Cheney, Kansas and Debbie (Larry) Zeilstra of Klamath Falls, Oregon and her loving companion, Ed Komp. She has also been blessed with seven grandchildren: Beth (Joe) Young, Charlene (Sara) Grinsel, Jamie (Casey) Miller, Christopher (Jenny) Zeilstra, Curtis (Elizabeth) Zeilstra, Shannon (Matt) Lee and Sara (Trevor) Morris. And to add to that joy, there are 12 great-grandchildren: Jaycob, Ava, Roland, Emma, Alaric, Collin, Levi, Theoden, Natalie, Ella, Ruby, and Charles.

Please join in celebration, on Monday, June 3, 2024 at 10:00 am at Grassland Estates, 10665 W. 13th St. N., Wichita, KS 67212.

2 Timothy 4: 7-8: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who eagerly look forward to His glorious return.”