Surnames: Geibel, Houle, Rutschke, Strasen, Zimpher

----Source: The Star News (Medford, Taylor Co., Wisconsin) Thursday, September 2, 2010, online edition

Zimpher, Ruth A. (Strasen) (February 18, 1918 - August 24, 2010)

Mrs. Ruth A. Zimpher, age 92, formerly of rural Neshkoro, died peacefully Tuesday evening, August 24, 2010, at Preston Place CBRF in Redgranite.

Ruth was born February 18, 1918 in Bland, Mo., the daughter of Rev. Paul and Elsie (Rutschke) Strasen.

She married Thomas Hugh Zimpher on January 31, 1942 in Elkton, Md. Thomas preceded Ruth in death on July 20, 1987, following almost 46 years of marriage.

Ruth was a registered nurse. She received her nursing degree in 1939 following the completion of her training at the Mount Sinai School of Nursing in Milwaukee. She worked at the Elkhorn Memorial Hospital, Beloit Memorial Hospital and the Taylor County Memorial Hospital in Medford, where she retired from nursing. She and her husband, Tom, moved to Prentice, Wis., and lived there until moving to Spring Lake 27 years ago. They also lived in Hidden Springs Lake, rural Neshkoro. Ruth has lived in Preston Place in Redgranite for the past six years.

Ruth is a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Neshkoro and she enjoyed fishing and doing crafts, especially crocheting and macramé.

Survivors include a son, James (Jo Ann) Zimpher of Wickenburg, Ariz.; and two daughters, Sharon Zimpher of San Antonio, Texas, and Barbara (James) Houle of Medford. Ruth is also survived by three grandsons; a granddaughter; three great-grandsons; and other relatives and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas; her parents; and her sister, Marion Strasen.

Funeral services for Ruth were held Saturday, Aug. 28 at Ruminski Funeral Home in Redgranite.

The Rev. Franklin H. Geibel officiated. Following the services, Ruth was laid to rest beside her husband, Tom, in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery in Neshkoro.

Memorials will be appreciated in Ruth's memory.