Ruth
Ruth Keith
Ruth passed away Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at her home in Shelbyville.
She was born September 28, 1936 in Dorr Township to Charles and Effie Stankey. For over 25 years Ruth was head cook for Plainwell Public Schools until her retirement in 1993. In her spare time she enjoyed gardening, cooking and most of all spending time with her family. She was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church and served in the Ladies Guild. On October 9, 1954 in Grand Rapids she married James Keith who survives.
Also surviving are their children, Janet (Rodney) Kivell, Daniel (Sherry) Keith, Samuel Keith and Sarah (Rev. Stephen) Pope; 7 grandchildren, Ashley Kivell, Bailey Kivell, Heidi (Todd) Campbell, Tonya Keith, Joshua Keith, Andrew (Nicole) Pope and Ian Pope; 8 great-grandchildren and her siblings, Annette Smith and Charlie (DeAnn) Stankey.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings, Peter Klunder and Sarah Mauck.
Friends may visit with Ruth’s family from 4-8 P.M. Thursday, October 1, 2015 at the Winkel Funeral Home in Otsego.
A Funeral Service will be held Friday, October 2, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. at Peace Lutheran Church in Otsego with Pastor Stephen Otto officiating. Following the service a luncheon will be held.
Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Wayland.
Contributions in memory of Ruth may be made to
Peace Lutheran Church
or to
Wings of Hope Hospice
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at www.
WinkelFuneralHome.
com
Offer Condolence for the family of Ruth Keith
Condolence Messages
Cindy Gordon
September 30, 2015 at 3:00 pm
My heart breaks for your loss. Ruth was like a second mother to me and I loved her like my own. I like to refer to her as our “camp councilor” in summers when she always found SOMETHING for “us kids’ to do… Condolences to all the Keith family. Keeping you in my heart during this difficult time.
Reply
Sandi Culver
September 30, 2015 at 4:47 pm
Keith Family~ My prayers are with you now. Ruth was a wonderful woman and I have very fond memories of her. She was always laughing and very loving.
I am so very sorry.
Reply
Carolyn Jordan
September 30, 2015 at 6:32 pm
When I was at Starr Elementary School (as a student) I had the pleasure of working in the kitchen with Ruth & Lilly Townsend. They were amazing women & helped to enrich my life by the lessons I learned handling food, cleaning up after a meal & all the rest of what goes into serving food. Later, at Plainwell High School, I again had the privilege of working with Ruth in the kitchen. She was a devoted, hard working, loving, caring, “teacher” in the true art form of feeding 500 school kids & teachers. I have thought of her many times over the years & can still hear her laugh ringing through the PHS kitchen. My life has been made far more rich because of this lady.
My prayers of God’s comfort to this family & her friends during this very difficult time. Ruth will always be a part of all the lives she touched. She was glad & easy to share God’s love with everyone she met. May she rest in His loving arms for all eternity knowing she was a good servant of God.
Reply
Tammy Thompson-Drake
September 30, 2015 at 6:59 pm
God bless you all, so very sorry. You all are in our prayers, hold on to your beautiful memories!!
Reply
Josh Keith
September 30, 2015 at 10:47 pm
I’m gonna miss you grandma you were the most strongest and caring and loving woman I have ever met. And you were a fighter and you have taught me to never give up in life and like always said if you don’t use it your gonna lose it. Well you have taught me more than you will ever know I’m gonna miss your smile and that white hair that dad was trying so hard to catch up to you get so you guys could match your hair together. You are gone but defintly not forgotten and you never will be! Thank you for being such an inspiration to me and your whole family we will all miss you but your still here in our thoughts and prayers god bless you grandma and till we meet again I love you!!
Reply
Janice and Tom Handley
October 1, 2015 at 7:14 am
We are so sorry for your loss. We will always remember that Ruth and Jim used to sit behind us every Sunday in church. I (Jan) traveled with the Keiths to Germany in 2000 with my daughter and a group of Lutherans. We enjoyed all the Martin Luther sites and the Passion Play at Oberamagau. Ruth was a fun person to be with.
Reply
Carol Winkel Wuebbling
October 1, 2015 at 7:58 am
Jim and Ruth Keith were pillars of the church family and raised four great kids. I was lucky enough to babysit those little ones often, and see how much love spread all around them.
Through the years Ruth and Jim remained truly dedicated to each other and set the standard for Christian fellowship and acceptance.
She will be missed LOTS.
Reply
Tim and Theresa Campbell
October 1, 2015 at 1:29 pm
Heidi and Todd your grandmother will missed by everyone who knew her. She loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. I will miss her smiling face and her kind words . Sending prayer and love.
Reply
Vickie, Daniel Schneider and Joyce Langford
October 1, 2015 at 6:19 pm
So sorry for your loss. My mom and I both worked with Ruth in the kitchen at Starr school. Her special smile will be missed. Love you all.
Reply
Sandra and Robert Aronstein
October 2, 2015 at 2:23 pm
We are so sorry you lost your beloved Ruth.She is at peace now and will always live in your hearts and minds.She was a great lady. Our condolences to the Keith family.
Sincerely,
Sandi and Bob Aronstein
Reply
Nancy W Kessler
October 5, 2015 at 12:54 pm
Dear Janet,
I knew your mom had been ill, but has kind of lost touch with you. I don’t get the Kalamazoo Gazette so didn’t see the Obituary, otherwise I would have come to the funeral..Some friends of Laurie Trutsch told her and she said she would have come too. Anyway My prayers are with you in this difficult time. I am not on Maple Street anymore or Judy would probably have told me. I had to downsize a bit and get somewhere that had a main floor laundry. I am enjoying apartment living!
Nancy
Reply
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She was born September 28, 1936 in Dorr Township to Charles and Effie Stankey. For over 25 years Ruth was head cook for Plainwell Public Schools until her retirement in 1993. In her spare time she enjoyed gardening, cooking and most of all spending time with her family. She was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church and served in the Ladies Guild. On October 9, 1954 in Grand Rapids she married James Keith who survives.
Also surviving are their children, Janet (Rodney) Kivell, Daniel (Sherry) Keith, Samuel Keith and Sarah (Rev. Stephen) Pope; 7 grandchildren, Ashley Kivell, Bailey Kivell, Heidi (Todd) Campbell, Tonya Keith, Joshua Keith, Andrew (Nicole) Pope and Ian Pope; 8 great-grandchildren and her siblings, Annette Smith and Charlie (DeAnn) Stankey.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings, Peter Klunder and Sarah Mauck.
Friends may visit with Ruth’s family from 4-8 P.M. Thursday, October 1, 2015 at the Winkel Funeral Home in Otsego.
A Funeral Service will be held Friday, October 2, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. at Peace Lutheran Church in Otsego with Pastor Stephen Otto officiating. Following the service a luncheon will be held.
Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Wayland.
Contributions in memory of Ruth may be made to
Peace Lutheran Church
or to
Wings of Hope Hospice
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at www.
WinkelFuneralHome.
com
Offer Condolence for the family of Ruth Keith
Condolence Messages
Cindy Gordon
September 30, 2015 at 3:00 pm
My heart breaks for your loss. Ruth was like a second mother to me and I loved her like my own. I like to refer to her as our “camp councilor” in summers when she always found SOMETHING for “us kids’ to do… Condolences to all the Keith family. Keeping you in my heart during this difficult time.
Reply
Sandi Culver
September 30, 2015 at 4:47 pm
Keith Family~ My prayers are with you now. Ruth was a wonderful woman and I have very fond memories of her. She was always laughing and very loving.
I am so very sorry.
Reply
Carolyn Jordan
September 30, 2015 at 6:32 pm
When I was at Starr Elementary School (as a student) I had the pleasure of working in the kitchen with Ruth & Lilly Townsend. They were amazing women & helped to enrich my life by the lessons I learned handling food, cleaning up after a meal & all the rest of what goes into serving food. Later, at Plainwell High School, I again had the privilege of working with Ruth in the kitchen. She was a devoted, hard working, loving, caring, “teacher” in the true art form of feeding 500 school kids & teachers. I have thought of her many times over the years & can still hear her laugh ringing through the PHS kitchen. My life has been made far more rich because of this lady.
My prayers of God’s comfort to this family & her friends during this very difficult time. Ruth will always be a part of all the lives she touched. She was glad & easy to share God’s love with everyone she met. May she rest in His loving arms for all eternity knowing she was a good servant of God.
Reply
Tammy Thompson-Drake
September 30, 2015 at 6:59 pm
God bless you all, so very sorry. You all are in our prayers, hold on to your beautiful memories!!
Reply
Josh Keith
September 30, 2015 at 10:47 pm
I’m gonna miss you grandma you were the most strongest and caring and loving woman I have ever met. And you were a fighter and you have taught me to never give up in life and like always said if you don’t use it your gonna lose it. Well you have taught me more than you will ever know I’m gonna miss your smile and that white hair that dad was trying so hard to catch up to you get so you guys could match your hair together. You are gone but defintly not forgotten and you never will be! Thank you for being such an inspiration to me and your whole family we will all miss you but your still here in our thoughts and prayers god bless you grandma and till we meet again I love you!!
Reply
Janice and Tom Handley
October 1, 2015 at 7:14 am
We are so sorry for your loss. We will always remember that Ruth and Jim used to sit behind us every Sunday in church. I (Jan) traveled with the Keiths to Germany in 2000 with my daughter and a group of Lutherans. We enjoyed all the Martin Luther sites and the Passion Play at Oberamagau. Ruth was a fun person to be with.
Reply
Carol Winkel Wuebbling
October 1, 2015 at 7:58 am
Jim and Ruth Keith were pillars of the church family and raised four great kids. I was lucky enough to babysit those little ones often, and see how much love spread all around them.
Through the years Ruth and Jim remained truly dedicated to each other and set the standard for Christian fellowship and acceptance.
She will be missed LOTS.
Reply
Tim and Theresa Campbell
October 1, 2015 at 1:29 pm
Heidi and Todd your grandmother will missed by everyone who knew her. She loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. I will miss her smiling face and her kind words . Sending prayer and love.
Reply
Vickie, Daniel Schneider and Joyce Langford
October 1, 2015 at 6:19 pm
So sorry for your loss. My mom and I both worked with Ruth in the kitchen at Starr school. Her special smile will be missed. Love you all.
Reply
Sandra and Robert Aronstein
October 2, 2015 at 2:23 pm
We are so sorry you lost your beloved Ruth.She is at peace now and will always live in your hearts and minds.She was a great lady. Our condolences to the Keith family.
Sincerely,
Sandi and Bob Aronstein
Reply
Nancy W Kessler
October 5, 2015 at 12:54 pm
Dear Janet,
I knew your mom had been ill, but has kind of lost touch with you. I don’t get the Kalamazoo Gazette so didn’t see the Obituary, otherwise I would have come to the funeral..Some friends of Laurie Trutsch told her and she said she would have come too. Anyway My prayers are with you in this difficult time. I am not on Maple Street anymore or Judy would probably have told me. I had to downsize a bit and get somewhere that had a main floor laundry. I am enjoying apartment living!
Nancy
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
Search Obituaries
How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
Share This Obituary
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