Obituary of Ruth Ruecker

October 19, 1935 – Churchbridge, Saskatchewan

April 19, 2022 – Calgary, Alberta

Ruth Ida Ruecker passed away peacefully at the Foothills Hospital on April 19, 2022 in Calgary Alberta, attended to by her loving immediate family. She had enjoyed a wonderful 86 years.  She is and always has been a faithful child of God, rooted in His grace of free love and forgiveness.

Ruth is survived by her adoring and devoted husband Bill, daughter Dawn (Ed) Wright, daughter Lori (Greg) Plater, and her beloved grandchildren Taryn and Cole. Despite living with advancing dementia, Ruth defiantly insisted that she would never forget her children and grandchildren, and she never did. She is also survived by her brother, Andy Dressler, and is remembered by many relatives, lifelong friends, her church community, and her dear friends at her Journey Club residence. 

Born on October 19, 1935, Ruth was the youngest child of the most gentle family in Churchbridge, Saskatchewan. In 1954, she graduated from Teachers College in Moose Jaw, the last class of its kind, later achieving her B.Ed at the U of C by taking night and summer courses, while simultaneously working and raising a young family. Ruth met Bill, her sweetheart of 66 years, when, as the new teacher of grades 1-8 at the Rosewood schoolhouse, she was invited to dinner at his home in Lemberg. After marrying on August 8, 1956, the two headed to Calgary to build a life together, growing more intertwined with each passing year.

Ruth was a teacher, both by vocation and disposition.  Her intelligence, warmth, and perfectionism made her exceedingly well-suited to the role.  During her career of more than 30 years, she taught in a one room schoolhouse, left her mark at Le Roi Daniels Elementary where she spent most of her career, and criss-crossed the city as an ESL teacher until her retirement. She was invested in the success of each and every student, quietly and profoundly impacting the lives of countless teachers and students.

Although teaching was her passion, the true focus of Ruth’s life was her immediate family – her loving husband and constant companion Bill, her daughters Dawn and Lori and their husbands Ed and Greg. Ruth generously loved and taught her grandchildren to always know that they were her two greatest joys. She proudly admired Cole’s sports accomplishments and kindness (likely inherited from her), and would be happily seated in the front row for each of Taryn’s opera performances. Her last days were filled by her granddaughter’s music recordings and over-the-phone serenades.

Ruth was beloved by all who knew her. She had the unique ability to see something beautiful in each person she met, and to make people feel truly loved. Her kindness, patience, and deep adoration for her family and community will be remembered by everyone whose life she touched.

Ruth’s family extends their immense gratitude to the Journey Club staff and Wellness Team, to Doctors Jamieson, Lewis, and LeBosquain and the emergency and Unit 72 medical staff of Foothills Medical Centre, to the caring community and loving residents at the Journey Club, and to Tim and Gloria and the Bible Study group.

A celebration of life will be held at Shepherd King Lutheran Church (804 75 Ave SW) on Saturday, July 9, 2022, at 2:00pm, with Pastor Greg Kern officiating and Pastor Kevin Scott assisting. Please join us for an uplifting service, with music and memories, in fond remembrance. We welcome cheery and colourful attire for this celebration service. Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Ruth's service streamed live (see below) on the day of the service.

We kindly request that masks be worn, out of respect for Bill and his Journey Club neighbours.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

Condolences, memories and photos can be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of Ruth Ruecker, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.

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