Ruth Ann (Rainford) Brock Zahnd, 82, formerly of Fisher, died January 2, 2025, in Bourbonnais. Born on September 9, 1942, she was the daughter of Roderick and Lillian (Bauch) Rainford. The family settled near Frankfort and established a dairy farm.
Ruth Ann, as she was known, attended a local one-room school. She later went to Green Garden School and Peotone High School, playing in the band, as well as being active in 4-H. She graduated from Peotone High School in 1960, then attended Illinois State University, receiving an education degree in home economics.
Ruth met her first husband, Alvin Brock, at ISU and, shortly after graduation in 1964, she and Alvin married. Ruth and Alvin first lived in Ashland and later relocated to rural Champaign County, welcoming two children along the way – Michael in 1967 and Susan in 1969.
Ruth was active in Homemaker’s Extension and United Methodist Women, in addition to being an avid gardener, baker, plus put her sewing skills to use by making clothing. She was a member of Mt. Vernon Church for most of her adult life, where she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and served on multiple committees for many years, frequently displaying her flower arrangements on the church altar.
Ruth began substitute teaching in the early 1980s, eventually becoming the full-time home economics teacher at Fisher Higher School, while pivoting her teaching as the curriculum changed. She taught for nearly 30 years, took tickets at sporting events, and helped put on the annual school prom as junior class sponsor. Her hobby of decorating cakes became a side business when a former student requested a wedding cake, and many more such requests followed.
After Ruth and Alvin divorced in 2006, she moved to Fisher and continued teaching and cake decorating, only giving up the latter due to arthritis in her hands. Ruth met her second husband, Kenneth Zahnd, while living in Fisher, and they married in 2010. She retired from teaching that same year and continued gardening, sharing her baking and her flowers, and activities in Mt. Vernon.
Kenneth died in 2019 and in early 2021, due to health complications, Ruth moved to Bickford Senior Living Center in Bourbonnais, where she remained active by leading Bible Study, crafting, and going on numerous outings.
Ruth Ann is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Barbara Rainford; her daughter, Susan Brock and her family; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, mother, husband, and son.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Mt. Vernon Church, 2201 Co. Road 900E, Champaign, IL 61821. Arrangements are pending.