Ruth Katherine Redman
Ruth Katherine Redman, 93, of
Waupun, died Thursday, October 30, 2014 at Prairie Ridge Assisted Living in
Waupun.
Ruth was born on July 24, 1921
in the town of Beaver Dam, Dodge County, the fourth of five daughters of Otto
and Alma Heublein Dinkel in the farmhouse constructed by her father that still
stands on Crystal Lake Road. Ruth was of the generation that went to a
one-room country schoolhouse before heading into the city to complete her high
school diploma with the Class of 1939 at the Beaver Dam High School. She
remembered, with fondness, trips to school and town in the sleigh with “Pa at
the reins.”
During the WWII years she was
one of a legion of women who supported the efforts of our country through her
work at a defense contracted shoe factory.
Shortly after her sweetheart
returned from his tour of duty, they married. Ruth and Edward Brooks
Redman joined together on the 14th of September 1946. In the
early years, they resided in Milwaukee. For the rest of her married life,
she resided in Waupun with her husband until his passing.
Ruth’s major focus was her
family. She was proud to mother two girls who she raised with tender
loving care. She was expert at preserving food through canning and
freezing. She excelled at baking pies and cookies. At the Christmas
holiday time she always had a cornucopia of sweets to choose from.
Her devotion to family included
all in her and Ed’s extended family. She was always quick to act in
service to help when there was a time of need. She did it humbly, as a
true believer in the scriptures of her faith. Ruth was a member of Holy
Trinity Episcopal Church in Waupun where she was active on the Altar Guild.
In 1967 Ruth began employment
with the Waupun Area School District. For thirty years, she worked in
food service where she rose to the position of head baker. The first
twenty years were at Waupun High School while the last ten were at Jefferson
Elementary School.
One of the greatest joys of
Ruth’s life was to dance. The old pavilion in Fox Lake was a noted dance
hall where the young people would dance the night away to the sounds of the big
bands. Those memories stayed alive, as Ruth would twirl her daughters
around the kitchen while doing dishes when a favorite polka song would come on
the radio! After the girls left home, she and Eddie became regulars at
the dances for the Don Peachey orchestra. What fun they had with their
group of friends.
Another favorite pastime that
Ruth enjoyed was playing cards socially. She participated in that from
youth through her life at Prairie Ridge in Waupun. In her latest years, a
big excitement was to take a bus trip to one of the various casinos in
Wisconsin owned by Native Americans. Her one trip to Las Vegas was fun,
but she preferred the casinos here better.
Ruth found a way to see the
bright side of life and have fun while living. May all who pass through
this realm have the joy of spirit as she had.
Ruth is survived by two
daughters: Kathleen Ruth Morris (Rick) of Danbury, NC, and Cheryl Elise Redman
of Madison, WI; one grandchild, Elise Katherine Wehrman of Minneapolis, MN; a
twin sister, Ruby Fredericka Block of Berlin, WI; nieces, nephews, and other
family.
She was preceded in death by her
husband, Edward Brooks Redman in 1988; three sisters: Helen Dinkel, Florence
Dinkel and Marcella Feutz; and other family members.
Memorial services for Ruth
Redman will be held Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity
Episcopal Church in Waupun with Deacon Susan Burman officiating.
Inurnment will take place at Forest Mound Cemetery in Waupun. Friends and
relatives of Ruth Redman may call on the family on Saturday at the church from
10 a.m. until the time of service.
The family would like to give a
special thanks to all the staff at Generations Hospice and Prairie Ridge
Assisted Living in Waupun for all their love, kindness and compassion shown to
Ruth.
Werner-Harmsen Funeral Home of
Waupun and staff are serving the family. Please visit our website at www.wernerharmsenfuneralhome.com
for further information and to send condolences.