Obit: Ruesch, Irene A. #2 (1922 - 2008)

Contact: R. Lipprandt
Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Altepeter, Brusten, Friess, Maziasz, Messman, Ramskugler, Rudolph, Ruesch, Stefancin, Willger

----Source: The Star News (Medford, Taylor Co., WI), Wednesday, December 18, 2008, Online Edition

Ruesch, Irene A. (Ramskugler) (November 27, 1927 - December 16, 2008)

Irene A. Ruesch, 86, Medford, died Tuesday, Dec. 16 at Memorial Nursing Home in Medford, where she had resided the past five months, recently under the care of Hope Hospice.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Dec. 20 at 11 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford, with Father Gerard Willger and Deacon Joe Stefancin officiating. Interment will be at Medford Evergreen Cemetery II. Pallbearers will be Perry Messmann, Michael and Aaron Friess, Arden Brusten, Rich Ramskugler and Bud Altepeter.

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20 at Hemer Funeral Home in Medford.

The former Irene Ramskugler was born November 27, 1922 in the Town of Medford to the late Leo and Hilda (Rudolph) Ramskugler. She attended Rib Lake and Phillips elementary schools, was a 1940 graduate of Phillips High School, and graduated from Stevens Point State Teachers College in 1944 with a degree in primary education. She taught school in Marinette for one year before moving to Medford in 1945.

On August 11, 1947 in Phillips, she married Wilbur "Bud" S. Ruesch, who preceded her in death on September 16, 2001. She taught primary and special education in Medford Area Public Schools for many years before retiring in 1985. During retirement they traveled to Alaska, Hawaii and Europe.

She was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and the Taylor County Chapter of the Wisconsin Retired Educators Association. She enjoyed gardening, baking, watching birds, and the company of her family and several dogs.

Survivors include her children, Jon (Marcy) of Chicago, Ill., Janice Ruesch of La Crosse and Linda (Michael) Friess of Franklin; four brothers, Chester of Milwaukee, Floyd (Kay) of Stow, Ohio, Leroy (Leona) of Cudahy and Richard (Marilyn) of Columbiana, Ohio; a sister, Patricia (Joseph "Bud") Altepeter of Elgin, Ill.; and two grandsons, Aaron and Jeremy Friess, both of Franklin.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Faith Ramskugler and Leona Maziasz.

The family requests memorials in her name to Holy Rosary Catholic Church.