Dear Mom,
I’m glad to have been able to be your loving daughter. It has been by honor and a blessing to be able to help Diane take care of you in your last year of life, especially during the last days. You always will be someone that I look up to and am extremely glad that I could consider you a best friend, someone I could bounce ideas off of and won’t be afraid to give me your honest opinion. We were able to share stories of your growing up in Milwaukee and how you and your siblings grew up during days of depression, baby bunnies in the coal bin, new wash baskets meant a baby was about to arrive, days of horse-drawn garbage wagons, no car for transportation, no microwave, no cell phones, great home-cooked meals every night of the week, stories about working at Boston Store, packing up kids in a car without air conditioning to drive 4 hours to Pelican Lake for 2 weeks of summer vacation after baking cookies, the life lessons of raising children, washing diapers, sterilizing baby bottles, and mixing formula. We laughed together. We cried together. I know you weren’t able to attend any of my swim meets in high school but were still cheering me on. You enjoyed helping me with my vegetable garden, taught me how to can. Taught me to sew my own clothes and supported me in the “Make-it Yourself with Wool” contest. You would sit with me when I needed my mom having surgery for the first time and hold my hand and offer your loving support when I had to have wisdom teeth removed or brain surgery. There is so much more that I could say about you but mostly going to miss your conversations, advice, hugs and kisses, and words of encouragement. This is not goodbye, but rather see you again. Miss you. Love you. You are the best!
~ Carolyn Wickert ,
Oconomowoc , WI
Dear cousins- I was saddened to hear of Aunt Ruth's passing, but I know she is with our Lord, and we will all meet again. I shall always remember her from Christmas's together- her and my dad sitting on the floor in your living room putting together the toys. Unfortunately, due to my own health and travel issues I will not be able to attend the Memorial service. Hope you are all well. Take care, and God Bless. -Yvonne
~ Yvonne M Port,
Milwaukee, WI
