Ruth Newberry

Ruth Newberry 1929—2017
Ruth Newberry, beloved wife of Donald Newberry who resides at Heritage Woods in Freeport, passed away at 12:56 p.m. September 2, 2017, at her residence in Manor Court in Liberty Village. She was 88 years old. Ruth was born to Esther (Kuhl) and Ray Thissen in Menominee Illinois on April 26, 1929. Ruth spent her elementary school years in Menominee, until she and her family moved to Dubuque, Iowa where she attended Visitation High School. After her graduation from Visitation, Ruth moved to Freeport, Illinois where she enrolled in the nursing program at the St. Francis School of Nursing that was located on Walnut Avenue. She graduated from St. Francis School as a Registered Nurse in 1950, during which time she met her future husband, Donald. One year later, she and Donald were married on November 3, 1951, at Nativity Church in Dubuque, Iowa. Ruth is survived by her husband, Donald; six children, Mark (Ritsuko) Newberry of Seattle, WA, Michael (Margaret) Newberry of Roscoe, IL, Joy (Cliff) Hester of Savannah, GA, Judy (Charles) Kjeldgaard of Council Bluffs, IA, David (Kim) Newberry of Colorado Springs, CO. and Christopher (Tammy) Newberry of New Glarus, WI; fourteen grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Ruth was a devoted mother and wife, and she worked most of her life as a Registered Nurse in various full-time and part-time capacities and at different locations throughout the Freeport area. She worked at St. Francis Hospital in Freeport, Freeport Memorial Hospital, the Stephenson County Nursing Home, the Amity Home Nursing Society, the Freeport Clinic, and at clinics in Texas when her husband was stationed there while he served in the Air Force. Ruth ended her forty year nursing career as a visiting nurse for the Amity Society, which was the job she loved the most, as she would often state that she loved the one-on-one personal contact that she had with her patients when she would visit them in their homes. This personal contact with her patients was a hallmark of the caring manner that she characteristically displayed when she personally attended to the needs of each of her clients. Wherever she went, Ruth seemed to be loved by her patients. The latter would oftentimes comment that she was "a very kind person who had a tender touch." Ruth was a great nurse, but in addition to that, she was a wonderful wife who cherished her husband, a devoted mother who cared for her children, and a good friend to all who personally knew her.
The visitation service will take place from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, September 8, 2017, at Schwarz Park Blvd. Chapel, 608 S. Park Blvd, Freeport, IL, where a Divine Mercy Service will be held at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 9, 2017, at St. Mary's Church in Freeport. There will be an open casket visitation at St. Mary's Church from 9 to 10 a.m. before the Mass. The burial service and interment will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery following the Mass. A memorial has been established in her memory at St. Mary's Church. Online condolences can be shared online at www.schwarzfh.com