Oct. 18, 2017 – West Bend, WI – Ruth E. Schmidt, nee Bohn of West Bend died on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at the Cedar Lake Health and Rehabilitation Center at the age of 90 years. She was born on November 27, 1926 in the Town of West Bend to the late Frank and Elizabeth Anna (nee Jansen) Bohn.
On October 19, 1946, she was united in marriage to Harold N. “Shorty” Schmidt at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Kewaskum. Harold predeceased December 21, 2011.
In the mid 1960’s, she began working as a clerk at L. Rosenheimer Department Store and later at Marx’s Sentry Grocery Store, both in Kewaskum, until her retirement in 1999. She and her husband Shorty owned and operated Schmidt Electric for 55 years.
Throughout the years, she enjoyed many hobbies and pastimes. Her gardening, cooking and canning were enjoyed by many. Fishing, playing cards, dancing to polka were shared with friends and family alike. Her most cherished pastime was spending time with her family, including babysitting her grandchildren.
She was a member of Holy Trinity Christian Women’s Confraternity and a lifetime member of the Women Of The Moose West Bend Chapter 732.
Survivors include 4 children: Diane Zalewski of Kewaskum, Jane (Gerald) Rettler of Campbellsport, Joyce (Robert) Bernhagen of Kewaskum and David Schmidt of Ashippun; 7 grandchildren Shawn (Scott) Zimmerman, Ben (Heather) Rettler, Andy (Sue) Rettler, Melissa (Ricky) Kratz, Craig Bernhagen (Jacki Higgins), Anna Bernhagen (fiancé Ryan Ogi) and Nicole (Nick) Pari; 13 great-grandchildren; 1 sister Dorothy Schaefer-Mehring of West Bend; 2 sisters-in-law: Therese Bohn of West Bend and Iona (Wiley) Parrish of Murphysboro, IL; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one son and daughter-in-law LeRoy and Mary Cay Schmidt, one son-in-law John “Jack” Zalewski and 6 siblings.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, October 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Kewaskum with Rev. Ed Kornath presiding. Burial will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. in Holy Angels Cemetery, West Bend. The family will greet relatives and friends during a period of visitation at the church on Monday from 3:30 until 5:15 p.m.
Ruth’s family would like to extend a sincere and heartfelt Thank You to the staff and caregivers at Cedar Community for their care, compassion and support.
The Schmidt Funeral Home of West Bend is serving the family.