Gertrude L. Ruechel, age 88, claimed Heaven as her home on January 15, 2019 with her family by her side. She was born on September 19, 1930 to her parents, Oscar W. and Eleanor A. Brutlag Schultz, in Ottawa, Canada.
After her parents married, her father accepted a call as a Lutheran School Teacher in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Gert and her sisters Audrey, Elva and Verna were all born in Ottawa. After eleven years in Canada, her father accepted a call to teach at a Lutheran School back in Illinois. In 1947, he accepted a call to teach at St. James Lutheran School in Shawano. He passed away on May 1, 1948. After her father’s passing, the family decided to remain in Shawano. On September 6, 1952 Gert’s mother, Eleanor married Walter Baehr. They established their home at the Baehr Resort property on Shawano Lake in Cecil. Walter pre-deceased Eleanor on December 30, 1968.
The friendship with Bill started as Walther Leaguers at St. James Lutheran Church. Both Gert and Bill sang in the choir directed by her father. They dated from 1948 and were united in marriage at St. James Lutheran Church on August 19, 1950. They were blessed with sons David and Donald. Gert and Bill enjoyed many years of family camping, 4-H, Boy Scout activities and family travels to Colorado, where David and his family now reside, as well as other US states. A special trip to Ottawa, Canada in 1967 with Bill, David, Don, Gert’s mother and sister, Verna was to reacquaint with family friends established while living in Ottawa. Also on that trip, they went on to attend the 1967 World’s Fair in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Gert was employed at Badger Breeders/CRI Cooperative for 33 years. Gert joyfully served with members of: the St. James Altar Guild and the St. James Building Committee; Shawano Medical Center Auxiliary and the Hospital Gift Shop; Shawano County Historical Society, cataloging items, serving as tour guide and special events; she was a special assistant to Bill for The Shawano Chamber of Commerce events and special banking displays and events
Those surviving are: husband, Bill; son, David and Vicki (Godding) of Battlement Mesa, CO, who were blessed with children, Brian (Kelly) of Sherwood, WI, Elizabeth and Blake (Jennifer), of New Castle, CO, who were blessed with children Asher and Pierce; son, Donald & Janice (Mueller) of Appleton, who were blessed with a daughter Alexandria (Steve) Yungwirth, DePere, WI. Also surviving are: sister, Verna and husband Melvin Weisnicht; brothers-in-law, Raymond (Arlene, deceased, 9/7/2015) Ruechel and Jerald and his wife, Carol Ruechel. And many Nieces, Nephews and friends.
Pre-deceasing Gert are: her father, Oscar W. Schultz – May 1, 1948; her mother, Eleanor Brutlag-Schultz-Baehr – April 29, 1994; her sister, Audrey – August 2, 2001and her husband, James Coleman – March 8, 2014; and her sister, Elva – February 16, 2009 and her husband, Vernon Weisnicht –October 8, 1998; her father-in-law, William A. Ruechel – April 2, 1970 and mother-in-law, Marie L. Raether-Ruechel – October 10, 1993.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, January 18, 2019 at St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano with Rev. Mark Drengler and Steve Schauder officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 pm on Thursday at Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano and again at the church on Friday from noon until the time of the service.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to ThedaCare Hospice for the wonderful care.
