Obit: Yndogliato, Ruby Catherine (1906 - 2000)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Yndogliato, Schmidt, Poertner

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/17/2000 (Scrapbook of Agnes Mohr Hermeling)

Yndogliato, Ruby Catherine (20 August 1906 – 17 May 2000)

Ruby Yndogliato, 93, of Neillsville died Wednesday May 10 at the Memorial Nursing Home in Neillsville.

Ruby Catherine Yndogliato was born on August 20, 1906 in St. Louis, MO the daughter of Joseph and Anna (Schmidt) Poertner. Ruby was the “original, spring-steel lady,” and Mom. She came North from St. Louis when she was 16, to cook for her father and two brothers, (Oscar and George) as they cleared land for the family farm. Having finished the sixth grade, she faced the world, and never looked back for why. Left alone with three kids in the depth of the Great Depression, she worked the fields and the hiways, combed the forest, tended a huge garden, to keep food on the table, and the cold out. She won the respect of all, educated herself, and still had time for kids, in trouble, and three grandmas who needed intensive care, nursing, and tender love, long before such services were provided at a community level.

Ruby found a great reward in marrying Tom Yndogliato, about the time her own children found their own lives, and Ruby and Tom spent many years farming and “dealing” in cows and farm machinery.

When Tom, the “love of her life”, died, Ruby built her “dream house” on the banks of the Black River, and became almost famous for her community work, gardening, rock-picking, and friendly nature. With many years as township treasurer, Census Lady, school board member, and etc., she was a constant critic on just about everything “going on.” One of her champion causes was the Old Jail Museum, now The 1897 Clark County Historical Museum.

She is survived by two sons, George (Jean) Jonkel of Fountain, FL, and Charles (Joan) Jonkel of Missoula, MT; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Ruby’s story is a long one and will be in a later obituary just before a memorial to be held for her on her birthday, August 20. A reception was held at the Gesche Funeral Home, Saturday May 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. The public was welcome.

Memorials to Ruby should go to The 1897 Clark County Historical Museum, 215 E. 5th St., Neillsville, WI 54456, or the Great Bear Foundation, 8902 E. Front St., Missoula, MT 59802.