Ruth Mary (Harkin) Bishop, 92, passed away on January 1, 2023. Visitation and funeral for Ruth will be held at Our Ladies’ Immaculate Heart Church, 510 E. 1st Street, Ankeny, Iowa. Visitation will be on Thursday, January 12, 2023, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, with Rosary at 6:00 pm. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, January 13, 2023, at 10:30 am. Services are provided by Ankeny Funeral Home (www.dignitymemorial.com).
Ruth is the 4th child of 15, born at home on March 1, 1930, to Daniel and Mary (McCusker) Harkin in Cumming, Iowa. She graduated from Norwalk High School in 1948. Ruth married Bill Bishop on May 21, 1949, and moved to a farm between Bondurant and Ankeny, Iowa, where she lived for 72 years.
Ruth took strength from nature and the land. She found beauty in every season, went to the garden for comfort and peace, and loved to bring in a small bouquet of flowers, just a sprig or two, for her little jars in her kitchen windowsill.
Ruth was a woman of faith and prayed devotedly to Jesus’ mother, Mary. Ruth was active in the Altar Society and Catholic Daughters at OLIH. She taught religion classes to Special Needs kids, who remained forever in her heart.
Ruth is survived by her 7 children, Pat (Becky) Bishop, Rosemary (Steve) Roberts, Kathleen (Randy) Sharff, Jerry (Kathy) Bishop, Karen Bishop, Carmella (Bobby) Jones, and Dan (Stephanie) Bishop; her 12 grandchildren: Jacob (Staci) Bishop, Michael (Eileen) Bishop, Joseph (Brandi) Bishop, Marie (Tim) Barclay, Molly (Jim) Donahoo, Darcy (Eric) Jolley, Jessie (Jamie) White, David (Kerri) Bishop, Clint (Jennifer) Bishop, Brian (Beth) Sharff, Cassie (Steven) Serrata, Liv Bishop, and 33 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother: Richard (Ricky) Harkin, sisters: Clare Neff, Lucille Morinelli, Rena (Paul) King, brother-in-law: Earl Seymour, sisters-in-law: Linda Harkin and Dona Harkin, and many nieces and nephews.
Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bill, daughter-in-law, Allison Bishop, brothers: Daniel Jr, Gene, Harold, Raymond, Tony, Martin, Dennis, and Edward, and sisters: Marilyn Hartshorn, and Maggie Seymour.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Gaelic blessing literally translates to “May her soul be on God's right hand”.
Gaelic blessing was sent to Ruth and her family by Finbarr & Attracta O’Harte, McCusker cousins, Portstewart, Ireland
