Ruth Kruschke, 92, of Glencoe
Ruth Augusta Emilia (Dammann) Schmidt Kruschke, 92, of Glencoe, formerly of Lester Prairie, passed away peacefully Tuesday, July 9, at Good Samaritan Society in Arlington.
A funeral service was held Monday, July 15, at 11 a.m., at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Glencoe, with interment at the Glencoe City Cemetery in Glencoe.
Pastor Jon Niebuhr was the officiating clergy.
Jan Heins was the oirganist.
“How Great Thou Art,” “Amazing Grace” and “On Eagle’s Wings” were the congregational hymns.
Jerry Scharmer, Michael Ayllon and Sean Barry were the honorary casket-bearers.
Phillip Scharmer, Nicholas Scharmer, Dustin Runke, James Nelson, Robert Mundt and Kaden Thomas were the casket-bearers.
Ruth Augusta Emilia (Dammann) Schmidt Kruschke was born Jan. 14, 1927, in Hamburg. She was the daughter of Herbert and Clara (Machemehl) Dammann. Ruth was baptized as an infant Jan. 30, 1927, and later was confirmed in her faith as a youth April 6, 1941, both by Pastor H. J. Boumann at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hamburg. Her confirmation verse was Matthew 7:13-14. She received her education in Glencoe, graduating with the Glencoe High School Class of 1945.
Ruth was united in marriage to Herman George Schmidt April 13, 1947, by Pastor Louis Wohlfeil at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hamburg. She and Herman made their home in Glencoe. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Diane and Terry. Ruth and Herman shared over 28 years of marriage until Herman passed away Jan. 15, 1976.
Pastor Layton Lemke united Ruth in marriage to Ruben Kruschke Feb. 3, 1978 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Glencoe. She and Ruben made their home on the Kruschke family farm until 2000 when they moved to Glencoe. They shared almost 38 years of marriage until Ruben passed away Feb. 2, 2016. In 2017, Ruth made her home at Grand Meadows Senior Living in Glencoe.
In addition to being a loving wife, mother and homemaker, Mrs. Kruschke worked at Telex in Glencoe, retiring in 1978. She also had various part time jobs through the years. She was a faithful member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Glencoe and a former member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Lester Prairie.
Mrs. Kruschke enjoyed decorating, flowers, fishing and traveling with Ruben. She was never happier than when she was surrounded by her family and always put them first.
Ruth passed away peacefully Tuesday, July 9, at the Good Samaritan Society in Arlington, at the age of 92 years, five months and 25 days. Blessed be her memory.
Mrs. Kruschke is survived by her children, Diane Scharmer and her husband, Jerry, of Buffalo Lake, Terry Schmidt and his wife, Jane, of Pine River; grandchildren, Kari Runke and her special friend, Rob Mundt, Stephanie Scharmer and her special friend, James Nelson, Phillip Scharmer and his wife, Linette, Anjela Ayllon and her husband, Michael, Riana Barry and her husband, Sean; 14 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; Ruben’s children, Diane Rifkin and her husband, Tom, of Bloomington, Julie Schweitzer and her husband, Mark, of Tucson, Ruben’s grandchildren, Kali Schweitzer, Adam Schweitzer; sisters, Betty Oelfke of Arlington, Muriel Zeiroth and her husband, Loren, of Waconia; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, nephews, nieces, other relatives and many friends.
Mrs. Kruschke was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Clara Dammann; first husband, Herman Schmidt; second husband, Ruben Kruschke; brothers, Harold Dammann and his wife, Agnes, Loren Dammann; sister, Verona Bussmann and her husband, Art; brother-in-law, Harold Oelfke.
The Johnson-McBride Funeral Chapel in Glencoe handled the arrangements. Its website is www.mcbridechapel.com where online obituaries and a guestbook are available.
