Obit: Van Gorden, Ruth Elizabeth (1923 - 2021)

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

Surnames: Van Gorden, Minard, Heagle, Kelley, Anderson

----Source: Gesche Funeral Home and Cremation (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 6/20/2021

Van Gordon, Ruth Elizabeth (10 July 1923 – 16 June 2021)

Ruth Van Gorden, age 94, of Neillsville, died Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at the Clark County Rehabilitation and Living Center in Owen.

Ruth Elizabeth Van Gorden was born on July 10, 1923, in Gilman, the daughter of Alexander and Mabelle (Minard) Heagle. She graduated from Stanley High School in 1941 and then attended Carroll College in Waukesha for a year and Lawrence College in Appleton, where she earned a teaching degree from the school of music in 1946. She then moved to Neillsville and taught school. Ruth was united in marriage to Heron “Pink” Van Gorden on August 9, 1947, at the Stanley United Methodist Church in Stanley. After they were married, Ruth continued to teach, part-time, for three more years and then she stayed home to raise their family.

She was a member of the United Church of Christ in Neillsville. She was also a member of the church’s Circle of Friends and a past choir director. She was a member of the Eastern Star, the PEO, the American Legion Auxiliary, an organizer for the American Heart Association, and her and “Pink” were generous donors to The Highground in Neillsville.

She is survived by one daughter, Marcia Van Gorden of Minneapolis, MN, four grandchildren, Ian (Erin) Kelley, Sean Kelley, Colin (Sor) Kelley and Meghan Anderson, five great grandchildren, Cynthia Kelley, Cyrus Kelley, Konrad Anderson, Adeline Anderson and Ethan Kelley. She is further survived by a sister-in-law, Janet Van Gordon of Neillsville.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, “Pink”, a son, Scott Van Gordon, her parents, three brothers, Charles, Gordon and Edward Heagle, three sisters-in-law, Annette, Eloraine and Hazel Heagle, a son-in-law, Carroll R. Kelley and a brother-in-law, Dick Van Gordon.

Funeral Services for Ruth will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at the United Church of Christ in Neillsville. Pastor Jacoba Koppert will officiate. Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville and from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Tuesday at the church.

Online Condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.  Gesche Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting Ruth’s family with Funeral arrangements.

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