Ruby Marion Moehrke

Nov. 15, 1918 - April 7, 2006

Private services are planned for Ruby M. Moehrke, 87, of Vacaville.

Ruby died April 7, 2006, a little more than three months after suffering a stroke and heart attack in her home in Vacaville.

Born in Green Bay, Wis., to Phillip Mommaerts and the former Elizabeth Vandenplas, Ruby spent her first years in Green Bay, before the family moved to Kenosha, Wis., in the 1920s. Ruby met her future husband, Walter Moehrke, when he was seated behind her in junior high school. They dated throughout high school despite the advice of one of their teachers that Walter was wrong for her. Their 62-year marriage lasted until his death in December 1999.

Walt and Ruby lived in Kenosha until 1947, when they sold their house, bought a car, and packed their four children and belongings for a move to the Pacific Northwest. After a stint in Oregon and Washington they moved to California in 1950, where two more children joined the family. They settled in Vacaville in 1962 after living in Butte and Marin counties.

In December 1962, Ruby took a Christmas job at Strauman's Department Store in downtown Vacaville. The temporary job became full time and lasted until the store closed in the 1980s. She was also instrumental in helping Walt run the family janitorial business, Key Janitor, until that business was sold upon their retirement in the late 1970s.

After retirement, Walt and Ruby traveled extensively, visiting all of the 50 states and most of their capitals. Ruby was also a longtime volunteer at the Vacaville Museum.

Ruby liked to go for drives in the country, to see places and people she hadn't seen before. She never met a small child she didn't take the time to talk to, and would frequently stop to chat with children she met on her outings.

Ruby is survived by her older brother, Ralph, of West Bend, Wis.; and her children and their spouses, W. Howard and Joan of Napa, Roy and Shirley of Vacaville, Janet Davis of San Anselmo, Lawrence of San Rafael, James and Deborah of Vacaville, and Richard of Sacramento. She had nine grandchildren: Cynthia, Chris, Rick, Tim, Jodie, Jeff, Caitlin, Ross, and Ted. Six great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Phil, Michael, Rhianna, Kevin and John complete her large, loving family, all of whom will miss her very much.

Final arrangements are being handled by Vaca Hills Chapel, and Ruby will be interred in the Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery next to Walt, high on the hill where their home together can be seen in the distance.