Shirley Ann Ruth, 78, of Solon, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at Atrium Village in Hills on Friday, March 11, 2022, following a long battle with cancer.  Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 17, 2022, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Solon by Fr. Charles Fladung. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery in Solon. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Wednesday March 16, 2022, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Solon.   Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Solon is handling the arrangements.

Shirley was born August 18, 1943, in Iowa City, the daughter of George Frank and Leone Marie Nearad. She worked at Rockwell Collins for 30 years until her retirement in 1999. She married Marvin Prochaska on April 8, 1959, in Ely. They lived in rural Solon on the farm where she raised five children. Following Marvin's death in 2001 Shirley married Leo Ruth in 2008, making their home in Solon as well. Shirley enjoyed playing cards, dancing, traveling and gardening. Above all she loved spending time with family, her greatest joy being her "littles."  She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister.

Shirley is survived by her husband Leo; children Cindy (Don) Rohret of Iowa City, Anita (Tim) Cornwell of Solon, Randy (Tonya) Prochaska of West Dundee, Illinois,  Rita (Russ) Nolte of Watkins and Tina (Lane) Van Dee of Deep River; grandchildren Tiffany and Megan, Amber, Alicia and Zac, Anthony, Lexis and Abigail, Dakota and Garrett, and Cassie and Jamie; 20 great-grandchildren and soon to be two more; siblings Wilbur (Mary) Nearad and Terry (Bill) Hoffman; step-children Betty (Dick) Cale of Davenport,  Debbie (Steve Dohse) Jones of Bettendorf, Chuck (Cindy) Ruth of Ely, Annette (Mike) Tomlinson of Eldridge, Michele (Dennis) Manion of Bettendorf, and Clint (Jennifer) Ruth of Eldridge; seventeen step-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband Marvin, brother Richard Nearad, and two grandchildren Sidney and Jacob.

Memorials may be directed to the family.