Ruth Spoerri

Spoerri, Ruth

Ruth Spoerri (Roeder) passed away on November 30, 2017 at the age of 92 at Lake View Place in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Ruth was a lover of opera, animals, word games, history, and the Green Bay Packers, and she will be remembered for her generosity, sharp wit, musical talents, and strong Christian faith. Her family extends their heartfelt thanks to the wonderful staff and residents at Lake View Place, where Ruth resided for the past 5 years, and to the caring team at Agnesian Hospice. All of you made of world of difference.

Ruth was raised in Kohler, WI, as the younger of two children of Walter and Waleska (Jacobs) Roeder. She graduated from Milwaukee State Teachers College (now the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee) in 1947 with a B.S. in Music Education, and then taught for one year in Rhinelander, WI. In 1948, Ruth married Irvin H. Spoerri, whom she met in college, and they settled in Fond du Lac. Irv passed away in 2000, and Ruth was also preceded in death by her sister, Anna Marie (Roeder) Doherty, and her first child, Heidi, who died at birth. Ruth is survived by three children - Kathi Reynolds (Allen) of Fairfield, PA, Lis Joyal (Steven) of West Allis, WI, and Jon (Debra Christgau) of St. Paul, MN, and by six grandchildren -Sarah, Chris (Melissa), Ian, and Andrew Joyal, Erin Powell (Thomas), and Katie Spoerri.

Over the years, Ruth has worn many hats. She worked as a secretary in the Fond du Lac public school system, first at Franklin and then at Pier school, from 1960 to 1984, and was instrumental in gaining union recognition for administrative staff throughout the district. Later, Ruth launched a second career at Action Advertiser as a writer and typesetter, eventually retiring in 1992.

Ruth was a member of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Episcopal) since 1954, and it was truly her home away from home. She was the church organist for over 30 years and was active in the altar guild and Mouse Factory, but her most memorable contribution may have been her archival research. Combining her passion for history and love of the church, Ruth literally wrote the book on the history of St. Paul's ("Of a Place and It's People") and became the pre-eminent tour guide. In addition to her church life, Ruth served as an accompanist for the Oratorio Chorus of Fond du Lac, was active in the Galloway House Museum, and, for many years, recorded books for the visually impaired through the Milwaukee Public Library, where she was recognized for achieving 5,000 hours of recording.

Ruth donated her body to the Medical College of Wisconsin and her ashes will be interred at Wildwood Cemetery in Sheboygan. According to her wishes, no services will be held, and Ruth requested memorials to the Fondy Food Pantry or the Fond du Lac Humane Society.

The following poem, "Outwitted" by Edward Markham, had a special meaning for Ruth and her family:

He drew a circle that shut me out-

Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.

But love and I had the wit to win:

We drew a circle and took him in.