Northcrest Community

Harriet Ringgenberg

Harriet Ringgenberg

Harriet Hawk Ringgenberg, 89, was born in Marshalltown, Iowa on June 23, 1931 to Harold Ambrose Hawk and Hazel Richardson Hawk. She peacefully passed into the loving arms of her Lord while at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames on March 17, 2021. Her family moved to Ames when she was 4 years old. She graduated from Ames High School in 1949.  She attended Kahler School of Nursing in Rochester, Minnesota, graduating in 1952, and worked as a Registered Nurse at McFarland Clinic for a pediatrician.

On April 4, 1954 she married Robert Ringgenberg, a long-time friend, and they moved to a farm near Nevada in 1955, where they lived for 40 years. She was very active in church work at the First United Methodist Churches of both Ames and Nevada, including leadership roles in United Methodist Women. Harriet served the community in many volunteer roles benefiting youth, including Girl Scouts and YSS.  When her children were all in school, she worked part-time at what is now Rolling Green Village.  Her last 10 years of employment were full-time at Story County Hospital Long Term Care.  She also served as a mentor for 3 teenage foster daughters. Harriet enjoyed traveling to all 50 states and many foreign countries.  She was a lover of cats and a great ISU sports fan, having football season tickets for over 60 years, as well as attending men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball games. She attended many ISU music programs and shows at CY Stephens. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, playing bridge, and escaping to Florida during the cold winter months. Upon retiring in 1995 they moved to Northcrest Community in Ames.

Harriet was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Herbert Hawk. She is survived by her husband Robert and four children: son Ray Ringgenberg and wife Brenda of Ames, IA, grandsons Theodore and Taylor Ringgenberg; daughter Janet Williams and husband Steve of Nevada, IA, grandchildren Kim Houston, Thomas and James Williams; son Paul Ringgenberg and wife DeAnn of Frisco, TX, grandchildren Ian Ringgenberg and Kayla Landhuis; daughter Susan Woodle and husband Park of Ames, IA, and grandchildren Robert and Caroline Woodle; 5 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church of Nevada and First United Methodist Church of Ames. Memorial contributions in honor of Harriet may also be directed to Northcrest Community or the Northcrest Foundation, 1801 20th Street, Ames, Iowa 50010.

No public services are planned at this time.

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