Ruth Wilke

On the evening of March 10, 2016, Ruth Esther Wilke, passed away at Terrace Place in Sheboygan, at the age of 94. Ruth was born in Sheboygan on March 28, 1921, youngest daughter of Helene (Lau) and Otto Oldenburg. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, and was also married there on August 16, 1941 to William Martin Wilke. Ruth faithfully raised their youngest son Paul while William Bill served in the military during World War II. During her life, Ruth was not only a loving wife and caring mother to her three children, but she also volunteered at Bethlehem Church as a Sunday School and VBS teacher, Altar Guild Member, and LWML President, to name a few. She dedicated countless hours to Bethlehem School and also to Memorial Hospital.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill, her two sisters, Helen Ayers and Lucille Wiesendanger, and her son-in-law Michael Ward. Ruth is survived by three children, Paul (Donna) Wilke, Wayne (Grace) Wilke, and Ellen Ward, four grandchildren, Sarah Wilke, Nathan (Valerie) Wilke, Rachael Weeks, and Andrew (Laura) Ward, and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will occur at a later date to remember Ruths life here on earth, and to celebrate her new life in heaven.
Donations can be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ruths memory.
Special thanks to Terrace Place and St. Nicholas Hospice who gently cared for Ruth. Tremendous gratitude to Shirley Zerger, Ruths niece, who faithfully visited and assisted Ruth for many years.