Zoe Ruechel of Kearney, MO, left for her heavenly home on July 19, 2025. She was born Zoe Olive Earl, in Kansas, the daughter of Roscoe and Emma Earl on March 9, 1933. She was the 5th child and grew up with four sisters and one brother. She attended Center Elementary School and Center High School. She was on the basketball team and in choir during high school.
She met Rudy Ruechel at a Valentine’s dance her junior year of high school. They immediately hit it off, started dating and married in April of 1951 and Zoe graduated in May.
Rudy was in the Air Force. During this time they lived in California and Montgomery, Alabama. She always found somewhere to work when they moved. Rudy was discharged in 1955 and they moved to Kansas City. Zoe worked at Skelly Oil Company. A few years later, she went to work at the Bendix Company. She then began at Yellow Freight Company, and later retired from that position.
In 1959 Zoe and Rudy adopted their son, Craig and two years later adopted their daughter, Laura.
In 1960, they bought a farm in Carroll County and built a home. They had two thousand laying hens. They would gather eggs and Zoe sold them to hospitals and nursing homes in Kansas City. She became known as the “Chicken Lady”. In the 1970’s the family relocated to the Grandview area.
Rudy retired in 1988 and the couple started traveling, primarily in Europe. They traveled to Yugoslovia, Germany, England, Venezuela and Egypt. They took a trip to Costa Rica and fell in love with the country and the people. They eventually built a home there and spent many happy times. They purchased a home in Kearney in 1995.
The couple joined the American Red Cross in 1990. Over the next twenty-four years, they worked twenty-eight natural disasters in the U.S. and its territories. Zoe was also an active members of the American Legion Auxillary in Smithville, MO.
Zoe attended First United Methodist Church in Kearney where she was active in Mary Martha’s. She was also a proud member of the Red Hat Club. She loved playing cards with friends. She was also a very active member of the Kearney Lions Club, serving as President. She was a lifetime member of the organization.
Zoe was preceded in death by her loving husband, Rudy in 2014; her daughter, Laura; brother and sisters.
She is survived by her son, Craig; grandsons, Shane and Lance; and great-grandson, Gavin.
A visitation will be held on Friday, August 8, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. followed by a Celebration of Life at 7:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 1000 E. 92 Highway, Kearney, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the church.
Arrangements are in care of Fry-Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Kearney.
