Ruth Rosengarten

GLANDORF -- Ruth A. Rosengarten, 87, died at 5:12 am on December 21, 2021 at her residence. She was born November 2, 1934 in Ottoville to Cornelius & Barbara (Heitmeyer) Brinkman who preceded her in death. On June 10, 1953, she married James (Jack) Rosengarten who died on October 12, 2013.

Ruth is survived by her 4 children: Pamela (Mike) Halker and Debra (Toby) Donaldson both of Columbus Grove; Tim (Corrine) Rosengarten of Aurora and Ted (Carol) Rosengarten of Columbus Grove; 9 grandchildren, Mickey Halker, Melissa Halker, Brooke (Mike) Young, Ryan (Emily) Donaldson, Will (Lake) Rosengarten, Claire Rosengarten, Katie Rosengarten, Samantha Rosengarten and James Rosengarten; 9 great-grandchildren: Kenzie Halker, Morgan Halker, Trevan Halker, Madden Halker, Lexie Jenkins, Addison Young, Jace Young, Olivia Donaldson and James Donaldson; one great-great grandchild, Arya Walker born December 22, 2021, 3 sisters: Annie Meyer of Glandorf, Teresa Friemoth of Idyllwild, CA, Julie (Jorge) Rivas of Santiago, Chile; 2 brothers: Robert (Judy) Brinkman and Tom (Barb) Brinkman, both of Ottoville; 2 brothers-in-law: Mike Swint and Jerry (Lucretia) Rosengarten.

She was preceded in death by her granddaughter Mandy Halker, sisters Rita Brinkman and Aggie Swint, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Kenny Meyer, John Friemoth, Art (Thelma) Rosengarten, Virgil (Ann) Rosengarten, Bernard (Doris) Rosengarten, Norman (Martha) Rosengarten, Carl Rosengarten, Thomas (Rosalie) Rosengarten, Albert Rosengarten, Linus (Arlene) Rosengarten, Henry (Jeannie) Rosengarten, Omer (Sally) Recker, Paul Bellman, and Emma Rosengarten; and a godchild: Jan Swint.

She retired from Ottawa-Glandorf Schools where she was a bus driver for 34 years and worked in the Transportation department making sure the buses got what she called the most precious cargo to school every day. She loved driving bus and the children she encountered through the years. She never had any write-ups for the children on her bus because she handled it all with a mix of the stern look, authority, and love that she had for all riders. She occasionally had to move someone to the front of the bus to sit right behind her. She said some of the kids she drove were second generation. She would see a little boy hop off the bus and walk away and she would think that he walks just like his dad. Or a little girl would talk to her and she would think that she sounds just like her mom. There were many childhood pranks and funny conversations over the years. One day, a little boy was so distressed because he forgot to bring something that began with D for his class, so she gave him a dime. She truly missed driving bus and missed her bus families the most.

Ruth was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Glandorf where she was a lector and Eucharistic Minister for many years. She loved assisting at church and attended mass almost every day after her retirement. After mass sometimes, she would go get a rose and some doughnuts and visit the shut-ins of the parish just to brighten their day. She was a crazy fun person who loved life and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her and her various pranks and antics.

She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a member of the Glandorf CLC and its Altar Rosary Society and the Ottawa Eagles.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m.Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Glandorf, with Father Tony Fortman officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 7:00 pm on Monday, December 27, 2021 at Love Funeral Home, Ottawa where there will be a scripture service at 1:45 pm.

Memorials may be given to St. John the Baptist Church or Putnam County Hospice. Online condolences may be expressed to: www.lovefuneralhome.com