Ruth L. Baker, 91, of Shawano, was escorted into heaven by the angels and loved ones that have gone before her, on Saturday, March 5, 2016.
Ruth was born on Feb. 3, 1925, in Symco to the late Richard and Emma (Reich) Fetzer. Ruth came to Shawano in 1945. She married Gilbert E. Gottschalk on May 22, 1947. Gilbert died in November 1961. She married Daniel Baker on Feb. 10, 1973, in Shawano. They just celebrated 43 years of marriage.
Ruth worked at the FWD in Clintonville and was a county agent for the Waupaca County Farm Bureau. After Gilbert’s death, Ruth owned and operated Gottschalk’s Fashionette and Gottschalk’s Cleaners. After closing the dry cleaners, Ruth and Dan opened up the Laundry Basket, which they ran for over 25 years. Ruth also worked for Studio One.
In Ruth’s younger days, when she was still at home, she gave piano lessons. Her daughter, Vicki, is following in her mother’s footsteps and giving piano lessons, also.
Ruth also bowled a perfect game of 300 in a bowling tournament and was given a free bowling ball, bag and bowling shoes from Bruswick.
Ruth loved to cook and was not afraid to try new recipes on her family and guests. She loved decorating her house for every season. Her favorite time of the year was Christmas. She would always have her house decorated with so many beautiful Christmas displays.
Ruth loved her daughter and son-in-law’s black Lab named Sage. She would always ask about her and say how “intelligent and sweet” she was.
She loved her daughter, Vicki, very much and told her many times, “I’ve loved you ever since they put you in my arms.” When Ruth got pregnant, she wanted a girl so badly, and God heard her prayers and gave her the daughter she so wanted.
Ruth was a member of the Shawano Women’s Club, Shawano Business Bureau and the hospital auxiliary. While in the hospital auxiliary, she helped choose students for a nursing scholarship. She felt this was a great honor to help further one’s education in the health field.
Ruth was also very involved in the Elks Club in Green Bay. She was a member of the Peace United Church of Christ and attended the First Baptist Church in Shawano. While attending First Baptist Church, Ruth professed her faith in God, got saved and was baptized in the Wolf River. She now has her wings and is looking down on us.
I will miss you, Mom! You were my mother and my best friend. We had a lot of laughs and good times together.
Ruth is survived by her husband, Dan, and her daughter, Victoria “Vicki” (Jeff) Druckrey, of Green Bay.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents.
Private family services will be held in the spring.
Thank you to the nursing staff at Maple Lane for the loving care you gave Ruth while she was there. You made her feel at home. Thank you to the Compassus Palliative and Hospice Services, especially Tara for the wonderful and compassionate care you gave to Ruth.
A Tribute to My Mom: No Regrets
The hospice nurse who was taking care of my mother for the last five months told the family that my mother would probably pass during the night. At that time, I searched my heart to see if there was anything that I needed to ask forgiveness for from my mother. Was there something that I had done to hurt her deeply? Even though her eyes were closed, her heart was still beating and she was still breathing. The nurse said that my mother could still hear.
I also thought if there was anything that my mother had done to me to cause lasting emotional scars for the rest of my life, and there was not one thing that she had done except to love, encourage and accept me for who I was. There was not one thing that I could think of that I had done to hurt her, and not one thing that she had done to hurt me. We both were content with each other and how we had loved and treated each other. I told her how much I loved her and that God had given me the best Mom ever and that she had always been there for me. There were no regrets!
The angels came to get my mother at 2 a.m. Saturday, March 5, 2016. As she passed, I thought, Ruth Baker was not only my mother, but she also was my best friend. So, fly with the angels, Mom. I love you. Hugs and kisses!
Your daughter, Vicki