Ruth Pauline Kuhn Metcalf was born on the family farm in Carroll County, Iowa on March 11, 1922, to Ernst and Wilhelmina (Simon-Rohr) Kuhn.

Ruth attended Jefferson No. 6 country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Manning High School in 1939.

She died in the Lord on June 16, 2016, at Rose Arbor of Kalamazoo, under the care of Hospice of SW Michigan and her family.

Ruth graduated from St. Luke's School of Nursing in St. Louis, Missouri in 1946, and along with two friends moved to Midland, Michigan. There she met her future husband, William Hill Metcalf. They were married August 16, 1947, and celebrated 60 years of marriage prior to Bill's death. Ruth and Bill made their home in Midland and raised 5 children: Colonel Douglas H. (Kathy) Metcalf of Carmel, Indiana; Reverend Jim (Cindy) Metcalf of Allendale, Michigan; Martha (Steve) Nuyen of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Elizabeth (Richard) Witten of Rochester Hills, Michigan; and Colonel Brian (Nina) Metcalf of Collerville, Tennessee. Together, they loved and enjoyed their 20 grandchildren SFC Christopher (Lisa) Nuyen, Michael Nuyen, Todd (Abigail) Nuyen, Mary Ruth (Robert) Hirsch, Douglas G. Metcalf, Matthew (Lindsey) Metcalf, Nancy (Justin) Bartolini, Peter Metcalf, Benjamin Metcalf, Deborah Metcalf, David (Shannon) Gloeden, Amy (Ross) Hoogenstyn, Daniel (Ashley) Gloeden, Pamela Nuqui, SSG Patrick (Catherine) Nuqui, Harriet Cole, Natalie Cole, Charles H. Witten II, Sarah Witten, and Thomas Witten. They were blessed with 19 great-grandchildren: Robbie, Elise, Emily, and Daniel Hirsch; William S. Metcalf; Kyle, Connor, McKenzie, and Ian Nuyen; Amelia Murray; Demy, Dior, and Dax Hoogenstyn; Magdalena and Isaac Gloeden, Sam Sulik; Evan and Liam Gloeden and Alexander Cole.

Ruth is survived by her sister, Marjorie Kusel of Manning, Iowa, and her brother Orrin Kuhn of West Union, Iowa, as well as brothers and sisters-in-law: Ruth Metcalf Mitchell, Donna Metcalf Branthover, Tom (Margaret) Metcalf, Ann (Dick) Votaw, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Bill, her parents, and siblings Robert, Helen, and Arthur, all of Iowa.

Ruth enjoyed telling her children and grandchildren about life on the farm; there was a time when itinerant travelers offered to buy her because they believed her red hair would bring them good luck. The children also enjoyed hearing about the antics of the goats on the farm eating the laundry off of the clothes line. It was important to Ruth that her children experience farm life and many wonderful family vacations were spent in Iowa staying on the family farms. Prior to going to nursing school, Ruth taught in a one room school house for two years at Washington Township, District No. 5 in Carroll County. After moving to Midland, Ruth worked at Midland Hospital on the Obstetrics floor and also in the Medical-Surgical Unit. She spent several years as a private duty nurse. She later became the Director of Town and Country Nursing home, now known as Brittany Manor. In her retirement, Ruth enjoyed traveling with her husband, gardening and needlework, making beautiful quilts and counted cross stitch for her children and grandchildren.

Ruth was baptized, confirmed and married in the Lutheran Church. Her funeral will take place at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 21st at St. John's Lutheran Church, 505 East Carpenter Street at George. Reverend Daniel Kempin will officiate, with graveside burial rites in Midland Cemetery. Ruth's family will receive friends at the Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Home, 1200 West Wheeler Street on Monday, June 20th from 4 to 8 p.m., and at the church on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider St. John's Lutheran Church of Midland, or Zion Lutheran Church Prayer Garden of Kalamazoo.

Note: the yellow highlighted information in the obituary was added by Dave Kusel, based on the immense Manning Historical Database he is building.