Ruth Charlotte Ertl

Service Details

SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2020

VISITATION: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

FUNERAL SERVICE: 2:00 p.m.

DRAEGER-LANGENDORF FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY

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Ruth Charlotte Ertl passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, at the age of 91, on June 21, 2020, at Ascension All Saints Hospital in Racine, Wisconsin.  She was born in the town of Sherry, Wisconsin, on November 22, 1928, the daughter of the late John Richard and Etta Mae (nee: Spencer) Williams.  Ruth grew up on a dairy farm in Wood County.  After high school she moved to Racine, Wisconsin and worked for Johnson Wax.  There she met a young lady named Sally who had a cousin by the name of William (Bill) James Ertl and Ruth agreed to go on a blind double date with him.  Ruth and Bill were later married on January 7, 1950 and had seven children.  Ruth was a diligent and loving wife and mother.

The family enjoyed camping throughout Wisconsin and especially in the northern woods.  They used a converted school bus camper which later became one of the favorite places for the grandchildren to play.  Those camping vacations were not always full of rest and relaxation for Ruth, however, since she was kept busy attending to the needs and wants of her family.  But that was her way of life.  She had the heart of a servant, always looking out for the needs of others before her own.  During her final days, she found it very difficult to have her role reversed as she became more and more dependent on others to care for her needs.

The family had a large garden and Ruth did a lot of canning and freezing of the abundant produce.  She also tended her outdoor flower beds and potted plants in the family home.  She enjoyed crocheting and knitting and many of her afghans are still widely used.  She enjoyed having family together and always made sure that there were delicious meals available.  She continued to make sweet treats for her grandchildren even when cooking became more difficult for her and she could no longer indulge in them herself.  The most frequent requests were for her cranberry bread, jello salads, tapioca pudding, and many kinds of cookies.

Ruth loved to go up north “where the air is fresh.”  She especially enjoyed going to Fence Lake to see the Fall colors, visiting family, and shopping at her favorite cheese factory in Rudolph.  She also enjoyed the many trips she took across the country that were sponsored by Johnson wax.

Throughout her life, Ruth was a faithful Bible Student.  She studied the scriptures regularly to shed light on world events, especially with regard to the nation of Israel.  She loved the Lord dearly and she longed for His return.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband William (Bill) James Ertl; her children James John Ertl, Ruth Ann Ertl, and Bonnie Lee Luccas; and her siblings Virginia Elizabeth (Walter) Arndt, Clara Martha Williams, Dorthy Mae (Ralph) Scheel, Gladys Marion (Edward) Hoekstra, Lena Anna (Leo) Dumesic, Mary Ellen (Don) Roskilly, and David Lahairoi Williams.

Ruth is survived by her sister Faith Hope Poplawski and sister-in-law Bettie Williams; her children William Gene (Janie) Ertl, Robert Daniel (Lorrinda) Ertl, John Richard (Robin) Ertl, Thomas David (Lisa) Ertl; daughter-in-law An-Li Kuo Ertl; sons-in-law James Mandli and George Luccas; grandchildren Tracie Lynn Ertl, Rachel Grace Ertl, Daniel Robert Ertl, Jason Walter (Alyssa) Ertl, Hannah Ruth Ertl, Sarah Joy Ertl, William James (Rachel) Mandli, Michael Jay (Jessica) Mandli, Michael James Sharpe, Natalie Christine Sharpe, Heidi Elizabeth Ertl, Anna Kathrine Ertl; and great-grandchildren Kayla Ruth Mandli, Elijah Isaiah Ertl, Gabriel Robert Ertl, and Jennifer Lorraine Ertl.

The Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, June 28, 2020, at 2:00 P.M. at the Draeger-Langendorf funeral Home in Racine with Pastor Scott Miller of Family Fellowship Church officiating.  Family and relatives will gather beginning at noon and public visitation will be from 1:00 P.M. until the time of the service.  Interment will take place on Monday, June 29, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. at the Yorkville Cemetery.