Ruth A. Strassburg's Obituary
RUTH ANN STRASSBURG Born August 15, 1918 in Merrill, Wisconsin, to parents Friedrich and Caroline Krajewski, Ruth Ann attended the Lincoln County Normal School after high school where she received her elementary teaching certificate. She began her career teaching at Grundy School, a one room schoolhouse in the Harrison Hills. Later, she taught at Brickyard School, now on historic display at the fairgrounds in Merrill. A gifted pianist, Ruth Ann won scholarships to attend the University of Chicago Summer Music School. She played piano for several area churches beginning in her junior high years. Her brother Arnie was a talented singer with a beautiful tenor voice. They performed together frequently at various functions statewide as well as on the radio.
In January, 1943, Ruth Ann married Carl Strassburg, also a Merrill native, in Chicago, while he served the country at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. They celebrated sixty seven years of marriage on January 30, 2010. After moving to Waupaca in 1973, Ruth Ann established the Waupaca Preschool where she lovingly cared for and taught many of the Waupaca area preschool children until her retirement.
Ruth Ann was a member of the League of Women Voters and influential in establishing a Waupaca chapter of the Suzuki School of Music. She taught piano to local children independently for many years.
A lifelong advocate of written communication, Ruth Ann was politically engaged and regularly wrote letters to congressional representatives even when they weren’t in her district.
An avid sports fan, she especially loved Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. She never missed watching Badger football and basketball games. An annual rite of spring, the Wisconsin state girls and boys basketball tournaments were a perennial favorite.
Her three children, all in Wisconsin, are successful and engaged in the arts.
Ruth Ann loved the Dragonwings Bookstore in downtown Waupaca. She filled the house with children’s books, sharing them as gifts to family, friends, and the public library.
She especially loved “tea at three” with family and friends. Ruth Ann is survived by her loving husband, Carl, children Brian(Lois), John(Mary), Carla(Dave), grandchildren Wade(Heather), Isaac, and great grandchild, Dyllan.
She also has family in Rhinelander(Deloris Krajewski), and Irma(Petey Liberty).
Longtime family friends Bob and Jeannie Bootz have lovingly watched over Ruth Ann and Carl in their senior years.
The Strassburg family wishes to especially acknowledge the extraordinary loving and compassionate care Ruth received from doctors, nurses, and supportive staff at Riverside Hospital, Bethany Home, and Theda Care Hospice in Waupaca. Though there will be no formal memorial or funeral services, the family will plan an open house in the near future.
Gifts received will be donated to Theda Care Hospice.
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