Ruby M. Golnick

Ruby M. Golnick, 66, of Garner, went to Heaven Wednesday, June 4, 2025, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident east of Floyd, Iowa, on U.S. Highway 18.

A memorial service was held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Garner Evangelical Free Church with Pastor Clevey Ragsdale officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Run for the Son - Christian Motorcyclists Association.

Ruby May Golnick, the daughter of Galen and Alice (Stenersen) Potter, was born August 1, 1958, in Forest City Hospital. She attended Hayfield Consolidated Schools through 4th grade and graduated from Garner-Hayfield High School in 1976. After high school, she continued her education at Wartburg College in Waverly. In 1980, she was married to Scott Dodd, and to this union three sons were born: Jonathon, Joseph, and Thomas. Ruby worked at 3M in Forest City for a few years and then stayed home to raise their three sons. She later returned to college to complete her teaching degree. 

Ruby was united in marriage to John C. Golnick on November 21, 1998 at Clear Lake Evangelical Free Church. She started her teaching career at North Iowa Christian School in Forest City. Ruby then taught High School Sciences at Garner-Hayfield High School and Mason City High School. During this time she earned her Master’s Degree from Viterbo University. Ruby retired from full-time teaching in 2021 and then began to substitute teach in Garner. 

She enjoyed traveling, collecting various types of rocks and gemstones, motorcycling, ministering to people, and witnessing God’s great love and salvation. With her husband, Ruby loved gardening, canning, and preserving to provide for others. She deeply cared for and loved all of her family and friends. 

Ruby’s greatest love was the Lord Jesus the Savior. Anyone who met her knows that she is enjoying the presence of Jesus in Heaven. Ruby’s greatest wish was for everyone to join her in Heaven some day. 

She was a charter member of Garner Evangelical Free Church, CMA (Christian Motorcyclists Association), and was active in the Republican party as a central committee member.

Ruby is survived by her husband, John of Garner; three sons, Jonathon (Megan) Dodd of Garner, Joseph Dodd of Garner and Thomas (Racine) Dodd of Garner; eight grandchildren, Samuel, Bradley, and Chelsea Dodd, Callie Jo Dodd, and Carson, Kathleen, Marissa and Erica Dodd; four siblings, Elaine (Tom) Deibler of Garner, Galen (Janet) Potter of Chesterfield, VA, Cheryl (Ed) Barkema of Garner, and Doug (Deb) Potter of Joice; John’s sons, Jeremy (Dana) Golnick of Mesquite, TX, John Jr. (Beth) Golnick, TX; John’s seven grandchildren, Jonah and Levi Golnick, and Lilly, Hope, Nicole, Jessica, and Eloise Golnick; John’s siblings, Curtis (Mairi) Golnick of Shawano, WI, Grace Ann Barnett of Tell City, IN, Janice (Nicholas) Sigona of Franklin, TN and James (Lin