Ella E. "Ellie" Ruecker

Ella "Ellie" E. Ruecker

April 24, 1929 - April 27, 2024

Ella E. Ruecker (Garbe), age 95, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2024. She was born on April 24, 1929 in Hammermuehle, Pomerania, Germany to Walter and Elsa Garbe. After the war, the family relocated to Glueckstadt, Germany near Hamburg where she met the love of her life, Kurt G. Ruecker. They married on January 2, 1954 and immigrated to the U.S. and settled in Toledo. They had two daughters, Nora and Sylvia, with whom they enjoyed traveling their adopted country. Later, they continued their travels, expanding their horizons to include Japan, the Far East, China, India, Africa, South America and most of Europe as well as an annual snorkeling week to various Caribbean destinations until Kurt's passing in 2008.

Ellie's passion was her garden and generally any plant that she could coax to grow. Give her a twig and a few weeks later she would give you a flowering plant. She was a long time member of the Toledo Garden Forum and volunteer at the Toledo Botanical Garden. She also worked for several years in plant maintenance for numerous corporate offices where she was affectionately known as "the Plant Lady".

She is survived by her daughters, Nora Cassidy (Michael), Sylvia Ruecker (Erwin Schneider); grandchildren, Erin Boyce (Brian) and Ryan Cassidy (Jennifer) as well as four great grandchildren, Ella, Mykal, Lydia and Carson.

Memorial donations can be made to the Toledo Botanical Gardens.