Ruth Schumacher

Ruth Schumacher, age 77 of Viroqua, and formerly of De Soto, died Monday, March 18, 2019. Ruth E. Schumacher was born October 18, 1941 in Winamac IN to Carl and Mary (Short) Johnson. She moved to Wisconsin in 1954 and attended De Soto High School. Ruth later married Harold Schumacher in 1962 and had four children: Douglas, Jeanne, William and Kurt. They lived near West Prairie for many years where she worked very hard on the farm raising her kids, all while managing the daily aspects of that farm. She later worked for many years at De Soto area schools as a special education aide. Ruth was a loving mother who worked hard and showed her love by taking care of us throughout our childhood. She loved to be on the farm as it gave her the space to create beautiful gardens of flowers and shrubs with lilacs and peonies being her favorite. She also had a huge garden of vegetables and fruits, which she cared for and shared with others. Mom loved to cook and bake cookies, but our favorite was her banana bread! She always asked anyone that came into the house if they were hungry and she would feed them every single time! We learned to love the outdoors and we all worked hard to keep the farm going. We lost the farm and it really saddened her, but losing her youngest son brought unbearable pain of which she rarely spoke of. She later became a special ed aide at De Soto where she loved her students and did the best job she knew how. After Harold died, she moved to a place near De Soto where she created even more beautiful gardens and spent time with her two grandsons Terrell and Justin, who loved her very much. Mom also loved to collect antiques and dishes, which she sometimes found at the auctions she enjoyed going to. She also loved to scour over flea markets to find treasures that she filled her home with. She met her granddaughter, Melody, last June and was able to hold her for the first time shortly after she was born. Her later years she developed dementia and we slowly lost her although we knew she was still the same beautiful soul inside, In her last week, we created connections and memories that will forever be etched in our minds and felt in our hearts. Ruths family includes: granddaughter, Melody; sisters: Edith Holt (Larry), Anne Guderski (Robert), Marie Esser (Vern), and Helen Rooney (Jim); brother, Richard Johnson and half brother, Ron Johnson Jessica); and a brother who died early on at the farm, Carl, Jr.; parents, Carl Johnson and mother Mary (Short). She was preceded in death by; her parents, her husband Harold, her young brother Carl Jr., her son Kurt, and an infant grandson Levi Mallett. Funeral Services will be held at 11am on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home in Viroqua. Pastor David Allen will officiate with burial to follow in the Walnut Mound Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the Retreat Sportmans Club. Friends may call at the funeral home from 10:00 AM till the time of service at 11:00 AM. In lieu of plants or flowers, memorials are preferred. To leave online condolences visit www.VossFH.com. The Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home is serving the family.