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Ruth Strohbusch

1931 - 2009

Ruth L. Strohbusch, 77, of Watertown, passed away on Saturday evening, Jan. 17, 2009, at her home surrounded by her loving family, following a courageous battle with cancer.

A funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at St. Henry Catholic Church in Watertown with the Rev. Brian Wilk officiating. A private burial will be held at a later date in St. Henry Catholic Cemetery, Watertown.

Relatives and friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Henry Catholic Church and Rainbow Hospice.

The Hafemeister Funeral Home in Watertown is in charge of arrangements.

Ruth was born on Aug. 25, 1931, in Auburndale, daughter of Ernest and Florence (Weber) Brost. She attended Marshfield Senior High School in Marshfield. On Sept. 13, 1952, she married Kenneth Strohbusch at St. Henry Catholic Church.

Ruth was a proud and dedicated stay-at-home mother of six. She spent her later years as a “surrogate grandma” to numerous local families. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, playing cards, doing crossword puzzles, watching game shows and “courtroom dramas” and of course, her occasional $20 limit at the nickel slot machines.

Ruth was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, and she leaves the people that were blessed to know and love her with many fond memories.

Survivors include three daughters, Nancy (James) Audley of Allen Texas, Sharon (Randall) Vick of Dousman and Judy (Neil) Cole of Watertown; three sons, Douglas (Kathi), Steven (Susan) and Paul (Dawn) Strohbusch, all of Watertown; 20 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, Aaron, Adriane, Jenny (Matt, Ben and Makenah), Jessica, Jon, Josh (Ashlee, Mackenzi and Braylon), Tara (Will and Colton), Noah, Emma, Ami (Josh and Jayk), Jami (Joey), Cole, Amanda (Taylor and Addison), Becky (Ella), Kyle (Sarah and Brett), Kale, Kory, Aubrey, Cheney and Rasine; two sisters, Olive (Donald) Fischer of Surprize, Ariz., and Virjean Harstvedt of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.; two sisters-in-law, Delores Brost of Beaver Dam and Virginia Brost of Sheldon; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Strohbusch; her parents; her brothers, Claude and Norman Brost, and two grandchildren, Amity and Alli Audley.