Ruth Pleggenkuhle

February 26, 1924 ~ August 6, 2012
Ruth A. Pleggenkuhle, age 88 of Fredericksburg, died Monday, August 6, 2012, at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 9, 2012, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church - Richfield, rural Sumner with Rev. Wayne Ellingson and Lay Pastor Irmgard Ellinson officiating. Music will be provided by Eva Niewoehner as organist with Gene Niewoehner accompanying the congregation as vocalist. The congregation will sing, 'What A Friend We Have In Jesus' and 'Amazing Grace'. 'How Great Thou Art' will be a solo by Gene Niewoehner.
Burial will be in the church cemetery with Karl Lamesch, Larry Gruenberg, Curtis Gruenberg, Gene Niewoehner, Tyler Pleggenkuhle and Jeff Pleggenkuhle as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Sandra Greenley, Karen Gjerde, David Pleggenkyhle, Deanna Lamesch, Beth Speltz, John Pleggenkuhle, Tammy Davies and Ryan Miller.
Friends may greet the family 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 8, 2012, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in Fredericksburg. Further visitation will be one hour prior to the service Thursday at the church.
Ruth Anna Pleggenkuhle was born February 26, 1924, on the Gruenberg family farm in rural Chickasaw County, IA, the daughter of Richard and Anna (Schulz) Gruenberg. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church-Boyd, near New Hampton. She attended schools in the Fredericksburg area. On November 27, 1941, at the Little Brown Church, Nashua, she married Roy Pleggenkuhle. To this union a son, Allan and two daughters, Diane and Lana were born. The couple lived and farmed near Fredericksburg and Sumner for 58 years and moved into Fredericksburg in 1987. Roy died on September 10, 2005 at the age of 83. Ruth spent the last three years living at the Whispering Willows Assisted Living in Fredericksburg.
In her spare time, Ruth enjoyed sewing, oil painting, trying new recipes and traveling. She and Roy enjoyed their many years wintering in the south. She was a longtime member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church-Richfield where she had served on the WELCA Board.
Survivors include two daughters, Diane Shedd (George Patula) of Clarksville, TN, Lana (Ronn) Miller of Fountain Hills, AZ; eight grandchildren, Sandra (John) Greenley, Karen Gjerde, David (Marla) Pleggenkuhle, Deanna Lamesch, Beth (Mark) Speltz, John (Andrea) Pleggenkuhle, Tammy (Jon) Davies and Ryan Miller; nineteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; one brother, Leo (Betty) Gruenberg of Fredericksburg; one sister-in-law, Beverly Gruenberg Hyman of Oelwein.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, Allan; one sister, Atensa Gruenberg; two brothers, Alvin Gruenberg and Robert Gruenberg.
Dear Aunt Ruth’s loved ones: I was saddened to hear of her passing this week! Although I cannot be there in person with you, I wanted the family to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. I have fond memories of Aunt Ruth, and how loving and supportive she continued to be to me after my own father’s death so many years ago. She has been re-united with her loved ones in Heaven and is at peace now. Wishing each of you God’s blessings and healing power in the months ahead. Love, Roberta (Gruenberg) and Troy Cleveland P.S. Aunt Ruth, please give my Dad a hug for me!
I enjoyed getting to know Ruth at our Lydia Circle meetings at Whispering Willows. What a sweet person! God bless you at this sad time!