Ruth E. Smith

Ruth E. Smith, age 82, of Green Bay, passed away Tuesday, October 24, 2017, at her home, with her husband at her side. She was born July 22, 1935 in Mt. Sterling, IL, daughter of Rachel Helen Lutz.

Ruth was a 1953 graduate of University High School and continued on to earn her Bachelor's Degree in Education from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, graduating with honors. After completing her education, Ruth took on her proudest and most important role of raising her 3 daughters.

Ruth married Daniel Smith, December 4, 1976 in Green Bay. Together they shared 40 loving years of marriage and successfully blended their 2 families.

Ruth was an active member of the community. She was a member of the B.S. Chapter of PEO and served as its chaplain for several years. She was also a former member of Service League, Shakespeare Club, Oneida Women's Golf League and the Vanguard Sunday School Class of Lakeland, FL. Ruth worked alongside her husband as Bellin Hospital's First Lady for many years and took great pride in this role.

Ruth was a strong and determined woman, surviving breast cancer and beating lymphoma. She found her strength in her family and her faith, as a member of First United Methodist Church. She was a fantastic cook, catering many gatherings of family and friends as well as for the Bellin Management Team. Ruth was an avid reader, enjoyed golfing and also loved to knit blankets and sweaters for her grandchildren. While fighting lymphoma, she learned to bead jewelry with her close friends, Betty and Tina.

Ruth's grandchildren were one of her greatest blessings. She cherished the letters she received from her grandchildren while they were attending college, compiling these letters into scrapbooks which were gifted to each child upon graduation. She displayed hundreds of pictures of her children and grandchildren throughout her home with great love.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Dan; 3 daughters: Mary Beth (Tom) Barron, Laura (Dave) Sell and Carol (Ed) Shirk; 3 step-children: Jane (Mike) Deuster, Jerry (Mary) Smith and Steve (Robin) Smith; 14 grandchildren: Kayla (Matt) Dorsey, Alex and Abby Barron, Connor and Derek Sell, Caitlin and Natalie Shirk, Tarin, Lindsay (Scott Thill) and Casey Deuster, Joey (Miranda) Smith, Emily (Eli) Winslow, Michael (Farrah) Smith and Tony Smith; 4 great-grandchildren (and 2 more on the way) and her sister, Mary Ellen (the late Jerry) Carey. She is further survived by numerous nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held at NEWCOMER CREMATIONS, FUNERALS & RECEPTIONS (340 S. Monroe Ave., Green Bay), Saturday, October 28, 2017 from 4 to 6 PM. Visitation will continue at FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (501 Howe St., Green Bay), Sunday, October 29, 2017 from 1:30 to 2:30 PM. A funeral service will follow at 2:30 PM at the church, with Rev. David Kalas officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family has designated Bellin College of Nursing or Alzheimer's Association as the recipients of memorial gifts.

Ruth's family would like to extend a special thank you to Visiting Angels, Unity Hospice and the clergy and members of First United Methodist Church for their care and support of Ruth and her family. A heartfelt thank you as well to many special friends and neighbors that filled Ruth's life with many happy memories.

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