Ruth D. Schatz, 86, of Waterloo, Iowa, died at Ravenwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Thursday, December 18, 2014, of natural causes. She was born August 4, 1928 in Waterloo, the daughter of John and Anna H. Suhr Schatz.

She worked at Rath Packing in the Bacon Dept. for 36 years until it closed.

Ruth was a very active lady. She took much pride in maintaining her home and yard. Ruth enjoyed spending time with her friends and family, especially her great nieces and nephews. She socialized through her love of playing cards, making trips to the casinos for slots and drinking a cold beer. She treasured her weekly trips to the beauty shop, followed by lunch with the ladies and shopping. In her free time, she loved to read.

Ruth is survived by her nephews, Brian Schatz and his wife Tracey and Tim Schatz and his wife Karen, both of Waterloo; her nieces, Julie Baxter and husband Jim of Waterloo and Christina Parks of Anamosa, Iowa; her brother, Robert Schatz of Waterloo; sister, Mary Ann Schatz of Escondido, California; several great nieces and nephews; and many very special friends.

She is preceded in death by her great nephew, Andrew John Schatz; brother, Arnold “Babe” Schatz; and sisters-in-law, Patricia “Patsy” Schatz and Carol Schatz.