Ruth Staff Brandl
Ruth Staff Brandl, age 87, passed away Sunday morning June 30, 2019 in Alabama. Ruth was born September 14, 1931 in Maywood, Illinois to the late Andrew and Dorothy (Baerns) Staff. She was raised by mother Dorothy and step-father Anton Brandt in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. She attended Sheboygan area schools and graduated from North High School in 1950. Ruth married Earl B. Brandl, also of Sheboygan, on January 24, 1953 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sheboygan. The married couple relocated to Central Illinois, where they lived in Pekin, Illinois for many years. Earl passed away in 1980. In 1997, Ruth moved to Indianapolis, Indiana and then Spanish Fort, Alabama with her daughter Marcia Brandl Willhite and son-in-law Ronald W. Willhite, with whom she enjoyed great friendship as well as being related. Marcia was her caregiver in her battle against MDS and Leukemia, which Ruth met with her renowned, life-long positivity, sense of humor and wit.
Ruth had a rich and varied professional life as well as being a dedicated and inspirational mother. She began her work life in visual merchandizing display art for department stores. Later in life she worked in the X-Ray department at Pekin Memorial Hospital and as a Dental Assistant for Dr Joseph Aimone of Pekin.
Her life outside of employment was full and wide-ranging. In addition to remaining artistic, Ruth was a member of several Lutheran Churches, where she was active in choir, with a beautiful soprano voice, leading her to frequently be a featured soloist. She taught Sunday school, was an award-winning director of many plays with the Youth Group, and a member and officer of the Women’s Guild. She loved swimming, golfing and was also committed to dog and cat rescue. Most of all, she loved learning and was a voracious reader; she passed her love of this on to her children for which she ever-enriched their lives.
Survivors include her children Dr. Mark (Cornelia) Staff Brandl of Trogen, Switzerland; Marcia (Ronald) Brandl Willhite of Spanish Fort, Alabama; brother, LeRoy (Sylvia) Staff of Two Rivers, Wisconsin; niece Julie (Brian) Staff Swetlik, of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin; nephew and godson Mitchell Staff of Manitowoc, Wisconsin; as well as many other relatives and friends, including her 4 treasured dogs.
A private family memorial service will be held.
Family and friends may contact Marcia Brandl Willhite or Mark Staff Brandl by mail, email, or Facebook.
In lieu of flowers please donate to and be active in animal rescue.
1 comment:
Mrs.Ruthie was an enchanting lady whose laugh made everyone smile due to her pure joy in life. Don’t think I ever heard her complain about anything during her stint as one of my patients. Mrs. Ruthie along with her sidekick Marcia, was in good humor, the object of affection to those they met and the greatest gift of all, organizational skills. There is not a moment in my memory that I have of the both of them that is sad. They kept me laughing each time we met. Mark and Marcia were blessed to call her mom. Bless you both as you remember all of those wonderful memories you have of her.
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