(October 24, 1927 - September 9, 2016) 
Ruby Lucille Ermel, 88, died September 9, 2016. Ruby was born October 24, 1927, to William and Josephine Anna (Christiansen) Burhenn on a farm near Ellinwood, Kansas. She was welcomed to the home by four half-brothers, Clarence, Frank, Ralph, and Clinton (Shorty); two brothers, Marvin and George and a sister, Pearl.

In August of 1928 the family moved to Baca County Colorado to farm near Stonington. In Colorado Erwin DeWayne (who died of dust pneumonia when he was five), William, Jr., (Pickle) and Charles were welcomed to the family.

April 17, 1947, Ruby married William Earl VanTassel, a Marine who had returned one year earlier from World War II in the Pacific. She helped him raise broomcorn in southeast Colorado until the Marine Corps called him back in 1951 for the Korean War. While Earl was stationed in Camp Pendleton,

Ruby gave birth to their first daughter Rita Louise April 5, 1951. The young family moved to Bethune, Colorado, in 1952. Three more children were born to the family: Ernest Lee, October 10, 1955; Karen Fern, September 13, 1959; and Lora June, March 18 1966.

While caring for the family, Ruby helped Earl raise registered Ayrshires and grow irrigated alfalfa, corn, and sorghum on the farm they owned and operated.

Ruby was a charter member of The First Baptist Church of Burlington, Colorado, where she served in various capacities with children’s ministries. Ruby moved to Burlington, Colorado, in 1984. She worked in home health care and volunteered at the Colorado Welcome Center and the MacArthur Senior Center.

She married William Hugh Gerber August 11, 1993. He passed away November 3, 1996.

She married William Ermel October 17, 2000. He passed away March 6, 2015.

Besides her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents, four half-brothers, four brothers, her sister, and one great-grandson. She is survived by one son, Ernest VanTassel (Kim) of Cabool, Missouri; three daughters, Rita Hendon (Ronnie) of Hawley, Texas; Karen Loganbill (Larry) of Moundridge, Kansas; Lora Paz (James) of Parsons, Kansas; two step-children, Cheryl Givens and Dorell Ermel; seventeen grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.