Ruth Kayi Shilling

A Graveside Service for Ruth “Kayi” Shilling of Knoxville, Iowa, will be held on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the Greenwood Cemetery in Knoxville. The family will receive friends from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Melcher-Dallas, Iowa. Memorials may be made in care of Kayi’s family. All donations made through the Tribute Fund link will go directly to Kayi’s family.

Ruth Kayi (Deeringer) Shilling, 77, of Knoxville, Iowa, passed away Friday, March 18, 2022, at Mercy Medical Center.

Kayi was born on October 6, 1944, to Don and Bertine (Slykhuis) Deeringer. She grew up in Knoxville and attended Knoxville Community Schools.

Kayi was united in marriage to Richard Marvin Shilling and to this union, they were blessed with three children: Rick, Jeff, and Todd. Todd passed away at birth. The couple later divorced, and Kayi lived with the boys on the family farm for several years until meeting her companion, Gerry Hoch. They spent over 25 years together enjoying camping, Patty Richards shows, riding their golf cart with their dog, Nipper, and tending to the farm they bought together. They also had two beloved cats that you could always hear them hollering for.

Kayi had several jobs throughout her life. She worked at the Pinky’s Diner, which must have been quite the place from the stories that were told. She was a Dietician at Westridge and after retiring from there, she went to work at Walmart to keep her busy. She later retired from Walmart and then spent her time on the farm with Gerry until his passing earlier this year.

Kayi loved shopping for bargains, and her weekly outings to the church store were a must. She also loved her “critters.” It wouldn’t surprise you if you saw her driving around with them in her car or on her lap.

Kayi is survived by her daughter-in-law, Becky Shilling of Knoxville; grandchildren: Tony (Katie) Shilling, Casie (Seth) Vernon, Cari (Ryan) Wright, Caitlyn Shilling, and Madison Shilling (daughter of Jeff) all of Knoxville; 5 great-grandchildren; nephew, Loren Thornburg; half-brother, Bill Slykuis; and many other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her sons: Rick, Jeff, and Todd; companion, Gerry Hoch; parents, Don and Bertine Deeringer; brother, Don (Bud) Deeringer; three sisters: Debra (Duffy) Bennett, Donna Thornburg, and Joan Crall.