Ruby Ann Lanser

Ruby was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa on August 10, 1950 to Reuben and Ruth (Brown) Steenhoek. She grew up on a farm and attended a one room school till third grade when her family moved to Pella, Iowa, where Ruby graduated High School. Ruby married the love of her life, Jerry Lanser, on March 5, 1970. They lost their first child, Amy Michelle, at birth, but later were later blessed with a son, Eric and a daughter, Rebecca. The family moved to Colorado in 1982 and started their own business in 1985. She was actively involved in the business until her death.

Ruby had many jobs throughout her life including retail, healthcare, childcare, accounting, and office management, but her most important job was being a wife, mother and a grandmother. She was an active member LifeBridge church in Longmont. Ruby liked playing games with her husband and friends, especially card games. She learned to enjoy traveling including numerous trips to Iowa and Oklahoma to visit family and grandchildren. She very much enjoyed her trips to Israel, Abu Dhabi and a cruise to the Panama Canal to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Spending time with family and friends was a priority in her life.

Ruby was a woman of faith and it sustained her over the last 4 years as she battled cancer, Covid and the loss of use of her right arm and hand. She had a heart of gold, loved people, and did her best work behind the scenes. She was kind and generous with her time and resources and she had a quiet inner strength. Ruby was always quick with a smile or laugh and seldom turned down a grandchild's request for a cookie or candy. The world was a better place for having Ruby in it and she will be missed.

Her prayers over the last several months, when she found out the cancer was back, was that she would be healed from all her illnesses. Her family’s prayers were that she would get to enjoy one more Christmas with them and that she would pass without pain. God answered them all.

Ruby was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Amy Michelle, and her parents, Reuben and Ruth Steenhoek. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Jerry Lanser, children, Eric Lanser (Monique) and Rebecca Zumalt (Danton), siblings, Ken Steenhoek (Anita) and Julia Caldwell (Don), and grandchildren, Braiden, Shelby, & Keenan Lanser, and Averie, Lincoln, & Sawyer Zumalt.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Ruby on Saturday, January 8, 2021 at 10:00am at LifeBridge Christian Church in Longmont, with a light reception to follow. To honor Ruby’s memory, please consider a charitable gift in lieu of flowers to Samaritan’s Purse or Bethany Christian Services. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy are appreciated and may be shared at www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com for the Lanser family.