MADISON/NEW GLARUS - Ruth Helene Collins, age 92, passed away on Friday, September 12, 2014 at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. She was born on February 11, 1922 in the Town of Richford in Waushara County the daughter of Julius and Adeline (Schaefer) Schwanke. Ruth was baptized in March 1922 and was confirmed in December 1935. She attended East Richford grade school and graduated from Westfield High School in 1939. Mom always told us she didn't get to go to her high school graduation, because she had the chicken pox.
Ruth married Richard Wachholz, Jr. on April 25, 1943. He passed away on February 21, 1952. She then married Elmer Collins on November 26, 1954. He passed away on May 28, 1996. Ruth worked at Advance Transformer in Monroe for many years until she retired. She enjoyed doing crafts and gardening after her retirement. Ruth was a member of the Mt. Olive Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid in Monroe. She also volunteered at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Monroe.
Ruth lived in New Glarus for fifty eight years and moved to Madison last year to live with her daughter. She was so happy to see her house went to a very nice couple. With a twinkle in her eye, she showed everyone the picture of the family that bought her house. She got the New Glarus paper to keep up with what was happening in New Glarus.
Ruth is survived by her two daughters Mary (Jerry) Schultz of Owatonna, MN, Mae Wachholz of Madison, two sons Phillip (Bonnie) Collins of Browntown, WI and Paul (Patty) Collins of Janesville, WI, and a daughter-in-law Shirley Wachholz of Columbus, WI. She is further survived by nine grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren with another expected in October who were the joy of her life, three sisters-in-law Opal Collins, Margaret Jenks, and Terry Wachholz, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Richard and Elmer, a son Ken, two brothers Walter and Harvey, and a sister Dorothea.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, September 15, 2014 at the Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1603 Sixteenth Ave., Monroe, WI with the Rev. Donald Swartz officiating. Burial will be in the Swiss Church Cemetery, New Glarus.
Relatives and friends may call from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 14, 2014 at the Zentner-Beal Funeral Home, 29 Sixth Ave., New Glarus, WI and from 12:00 noon until time of service on Monday at the Mt. Olive Lutheran Church.
The family would like to thank all of the doctors and nurses at UW Hospital for taking such good care of her.
Another angel has gone to heaven.
Memorials are suggested to the Green Cares Food Pantry, Monticello, WI. An online memorial with guestbook is available at www.bealfuneralhomes.com.