Ruth Idellian (Jochimsen) Mattke, of New Holstein, transitioned to her eternal home peacefully and surrounded by family at her home in Willowpark Place on Friday, October 9, 2015. She was born on her family’s farm outside of New Holstein on February 13, 1915 to Albert Jochimsen and Dorothea “Dora” (Thede) Jochimsen, their first born child. She attended GG Meade School, where her singing prowess was first recognized in the 3rd grade, graduating from New Holstein High School in 1933, having garnered the lead in the school operetta as a freshman.
Ruth pursued her vocal music career, attending and graduating from Milwaukee State Teacher’s College (now UW-Milwaukee) in 1937 with a Bachelor’s in Vocal Music Education and a minor in History. She was the first in her family to attend college and was extremely proud of this accomplishment, always emphasizing the importance of education in changing people’s lives, and placing a high priority on it.
As children during the Depression, she and her younger sister “Judy” learned to make their own clothes, creating their own patterns, then using portions of various articles and re-purposing them into stylish clothes that they made themselves. They learned to stretch what they had. As a music teacher, she used this same creativity in stretching her music budgets first in Mayville and later in Rice Lake and Antigo, Wisconsin.
Ruth married John G. Mattke, a Mathematics teacher, in Gillett WI in February 1945, then moving immediately to the Atlanta Georgia area because John was enlisted in the Army due to World War II. There she again found a teaching position. After the war, Ruth and John settled in Sheboygan, where he again taught Mathematics and Ruth became a mother, homemaker and choir director at her church. Besides raising a family, Ruth also worked tirelessly with her husband John to further the recognition of the importance of education and to elevate the status to become recognized as a top-tier “profession”. She was a professional educator and leader in her own right.
Other areas of life-long love for Ruth included genealogy, cooking and travel. She spent innumerable hours responding to requests by family and others in order to provide copies of the appropriate portions of her genealogical research, developing contacts all over the world. Those who knew her always looked forward to her baked treats, especially those created from long-held family recipes such as the “fuetjens” made annually, especially at Christmas time. Her wonderful annual Christmas letters were anticipated by all who received them. She also documented family travel and other events and visits by family and friends, both by calendaring each day and through photographs of people and events.
Ruth liked to say that she came from “strong stock” and was proud of her German heritage, having spoken only “Platt Duetsche” until the age of 3. This was proven true when at the age of 93 she became a cancer survivor after undergoing 2 surgeries in Milwaukee, followed by 2 rounds of different types of radiation therapy, finally being declared “cancer free” which continued until the time of her passing. Ruth was a very caring, giving and grateful woman who was beloved by those who had the good fortune to be part of her life.
In addition to her parents, Ruth’s husband John (who made his transition in April 1985) and her sister Judith Jochimsen Dudley (who transitioned in July 2012) also predeceased her. Ruth is survived by her children, son John P. “Jack” Mattke and life partner, Kristine Blumberg Wenkle of New Holstein WI; grandson, David and wife, Kristyn (Lantagne) Mattke of Windham NH; grand-daughter, Susan Mattke-Robinson and fiancé Isaac Dessommes of Portland OR; daughter Mary C. Mattke and life partner, Joseph F. Patterson of Bloomfield CT; grand-daughter Michelle E. Jones and fiancé Ryan Johnson of Glastonbury CT; grandson, Russell A. Jones of Cromwell CT; and grand-daughter Kimberly V. Jones of Brooklyn NY. She is also survived by her sister Judith’s children and descendents, John’s siblings’ descendents as well as her many Thede and Jochimsen cousins and their descendents living throughout Wisconsin and across the country, and friends all over the world.
Mom was an extraordinary true forwardthinking woman, especially for her times. She inspired myriads of people, many of whom she never met.
Private family gatherings will be held now and at later dates.
A celebration of Mom’s life will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, October 16, 2015, at the Sippel Funeral Home 2618 Altona Avenue New Holstein, Wisconsin 53079.
Family and friends may call at the funeral home Friday morning, October 16th from 10:00AM until the time of services.
Private burial will take place in the New Holstein City Cemetery.
For additional information, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home (920) 898-4300
In lieu of flowers, a Scholarship Fund will be established in her memory.
Ruth pursued her vocal music career, attending and graduating from Milwaukee State Teacher’s College (now UW-Milwaukee) in 1937 with a Bachelor’s in Vocal Music Education and a minor in History. She was the first in her family to attend college and was extremely proud of this accomplishment, always emphasizing the importance of education in changing people’s lives, and placing a high priority on it.
As children during the Depression, she and her younger sister “Judy” learned to make their own clothes, creating their own patterns, then using portions of various articles and re-purposing them into stylish clothes that they made themselves. They learned to stretch what they had. As a music teacher, she used this same creativity in stretching her music budgets first in Mayville and later in Rice Lake and Antigo, Wisconsin.
Ruth married John G. Mattke, a Mathematics teacher, in Gillett WI in February 1945, then moving immediately to the Atlanta Georgia area because John was enlisted in the Army due to World War II. There she again found a teaching position. After the war, Ruth and John settled in Sheboygan, where he again taught Mathematics and Ruth became a mother, homemaker and choir director at her church. Besides raising a family, Ruth also worked tirelessly with her husband John to further the recognition of the importance of education and to elevate the status to become recognized as a top-tier “profession”. She was a professional educator and leader in her own right.
Other areas of life-long love for Ruth included genealogy, cooking and travel. She spent innumerable hours responding to requests by family and others in order to provide copies of the appropriate portions of her genealogical research, developing contacts all over the world. Those who knew her always looked forward to her baked treats, especially those created from long-held family recipes such as the “fuetjens” made annually, especially at Christmas time. Her wonderful annual Christmas letters were anticipated by all who received them. She also documented family travel and other events and visits by family and friends, both by calendaring each day and through photographs of people and events.
Ruth liked to say that she came from “strong stock” and was proud of her German heritage, having spoken only “Platt Duetsche” until the age of 3. This was proven true when at the age of 93 she became a cancer survivor after undergoing 2 surgeries in Milwaukee, followed by 2 rounds of different types of radiation therapy, finally being declared “cancer free” which continued until the time of her passing. Ruth was a very caring, giving and grateful woman who was beloved by those who had the good fortune to be part of her life.
In addition to her parents, Ruth’s husband John (who made his transition in April 1985) and her sister Judith Jochimsen Dudley (who transitioned in July 2012) also predeceased her. Ruth is survived by her children, son John P. “Jack” Mattke and life partner, Kristine Blumberg Wenkle of New Holstein WI; grandson, David and wife, Kristyn (Lantagne) Mattke of Windham NH; grand-daughter, Susan Mattke-Robinson and fiancé Isaac Dessommes of Portland OR; daughter Mary C. Mattke and life partner, Joseph F. Patterson of Bloomfield CT; grand-daughter Michelle E. Jones and fiancé Ryan Johnson of Glastonbury CT; grandson, Russell A. Jones of Cromwell CT; and grand-daughter Kimberly V. Jones of Brooklyn NY. She is also survived by her sister Judith’s children and descendents, John’s siblings’ descendents as well as her many Thede and Jochimsen cousins and their descendents living throughout Wisconsin and across the country, and friends all over the world.
Mom was an extraordinary true forwardthinking woman, especially for her times. She inspired myriads of people, many of whom she never met.
Private family gatherings will be held now and at later dates.
A celebration of Mom’s life will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, October 16, 2015, at the Sippel Funeral Home 2618 Altona Avenue New Holstein, Wisconsin 53079.
Family and friends may call at the funeral home Friday morning, October 16th from 10:00AM until the time of services.
Private burial will take place in the New Holstein City Cemetery.
For additional information, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home (920) 898-4300
In lieu of flowers, a Scholarship Fund will be established in her memory.
Ruth Idellian (Jochimsen) Mattke, of New Holstein, transitioned to her eternal home peacefully and surrounded by family at her home in Willowpark Place on Friday, October 9, 2015. She was born on her family’s farm outside of New Holstein on February 13, 1915 to Albert Jochimsen and Dorothea “Dora” (Thede) Jochimsen, their first born child. She attended GG Meade School, where her singing prowess was first recognized in the 3rd grade, graduating from New Holstein High School in 1933, having garnered the lead in the school operetta as a freshman.
Ruth pursued her vocal music career, attending and graduating from Milwaukee State Teacher’s College (now UW-Milwaukee) in 1937 with a Bachelor’s in Vocal Music Education and a minor in History. She was the first in her family to attend college and was extremely proud of this accomplishment, always emphasizing the importance of education in changing people’s lives, and placing a high priority on it.
As children during the Depression, she and her younger sister “Judy” learned to make their own clothes, creating their own patterns, then using portions of various articles and re-purposing them into stylish clothes that they made themselves. They learned to stretch what they had. As a music teacher, she used this same creativity in stretching her music budgets first in Mayville and later in Rice Lake and Antigo, Wisconsin.
Ruth married John G. Mattke, a Mathematics teacher, in Gillett WI in February 1945, then moving immediately to the Atlanta Georgia area because John was enlisted in the Army due to World War II. There she again found a teaching position. After the war, Ruth and John settled in Sheboygan, where he again taught Mathematics and Ruth became a mother, homemaker and choir director at her church. Besides raising a family, Ruth also worked tirelessly with her husband John to further the recognition of the importance of education and to elevate the status to become recognized as a top-tier “profession”. She was a professional educator and leader in her own right.
Other areas of life-long love for Ruth included genealogy, cooking and travel. She spent innumerable hours responding to requests by family and others in order to provide copies of the appropriate portions of her genealogical research, developing contacts all over the world. Those who knew her always looked forward to her baked treats, especially those created from long-held family recipes such as the “fuetjens” made annually, especially at Christmas time. Her wonderful annual Christmas letters were anticipated by all who received them. She also documented family travel and other events and visits by family and friends, both by calendaring each day and through photographs of people and events.
Ruth liked to say that she came from “strong stock” and was proud of her German heritage, having spoken only “Platt Duetsche” until the age of 3. This was proven true when at the age of 93 she became a cancer survivor after undergoing 2 surgeries in Milwaukee, followed by 2 rounds of different types of radiation therapy, finally being declared “cancer free” which continued until the time of her passing. Ruth was a very caring, giving and grateful woman who was beloved by those who had the good fortune to be part of her life.
In addition to her parents, Ruth’s husband John (who made his transition in April 1985) and her sister Judith Jochimsen Dudley (who transitioned in July 2012) also predeceased her. Ruth is survived by her children, son John P. “Jack” Mattke and life partner, Kristine Blumberg Wenkle of New Holstein WI; grandson, David and wife, Kristyn (Lantagne) Mattke of Windham NH; grand-daughter, Susan Mattke-Robinson and fiancé Isaac Dessommes of Portland OR; daughter Mary C. Mattke and life partner, Joseph F. Patterson of Bloomfield CT; grand-daughter Michelle E. Jones and fiancé Ryan Johnson of Glastonbury CT; grandson, Russell A. Jones of Cromwell CT; and grand-daughter Kimberly V. Jones of Brooklyn NY. She is also survived by her sister Judith’s children and descendents, John’s siblings’ descendents as well as her many Thede and Jochimsen cousins and their descendents living throughout Wisconsin and across the country, and friends all over the world.
Mom was an extraordinary true forwardthinking woman, especially for her times. She inspired myriads of people, many of whom she never met.
Private family gatherings will be held now and at later dates.
A celebration of Mom’s life will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, October 16, 2015, at the Sippel Funeral Home 2618 Altona Avenue New Holstein, Wisconsin 53079.
Family and friends may call at the funeral home Friday morning, October 16th from 10:00AM until the time of services.
Private burial will take place in the New Holstein City Cemetery.
For additional information, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home (920) 898-4300
In lieu of flowers, a Scholarship Fund will be established in her memory.
Ruth pursued her vocal music career, attending and graduating from Milwaukee State Teacher’s College (now UW-Milwaukee) in 1937 with a Bachelor’s in Vocal Music Education and a minor in History. She was the first in her family to attend college and was extremely proud of this accomplishment, always emphasizing the importance of education in changing people’s lives, and placing a high priority on it.
As children during the Depression, she and her younger sister “Judy” learned to make their own clothes, creating their own patterns, then using portions of various articles and re-purposing them into stylish clothes that they made themselves. They learned to stretch what they had. As a music teacher, she used this same creativity in stretching her music budgets first in Mayville and later in Rice Lake and Antigo, Wisconsin.
Ruth married John G. Mattke, a Mathematics teacher, in Gillett WI in February 1945, then moving immediately to the Atlanta Georgia area because John was enlisted in the Army due to World War II. There she again found a teaching position. After the war, Ruth and John settled in Sheboygan, where he again taught Mathematics and Ruth became a mother, homemaker and choir director at her church. Besides raising a family, Ruth also worked tirelessly with her husband John to further the recognition of the importance of education and to elevate the status to become recognized as a top-tier “profession”. She was a professional educator and leader in her own right.
Other areas of life-long love for Ruth included genealogy, cooking and travel. She spent innumerable hours responding to requests by family and others in order to provide copies of the appropriate portions of her genealogical research, developing contacts all over the world. Those who knew her always looked forward to her baked treats, especially those created from long-held family recipes such as the “fuetjens” made annually, especially at Christmas time. Her wonderful annual Christmas letters were anticipated by all who received them. She also documented family travel and other events and visits by family and friends, both by calendaring each day and through photographs of people and events.
Ruth liked to say that she came from “strong stock” and was proud of her German heritage, having spoken only “Platt Duetsche” until the age of 3. This was proven true when at the age of 93 she became a cancer survivor after undergoing 2 surgeries in Milwaukee, followed by 2 rounds of different types of radiation therapy, finally being declared “cancer free” which continued until the time of her passing. Ruth was a very caring, giving and grateful woman who was beloved by those who had the good fortune to be part of her life.
In addition to her parents, Ruth’s husband John (who made his transition in April 1985) and her sister Judith Jochimsen Dudley (who transitioned in July 2012) also predeceased her. Ruth is survived by her children, son John P. “Jack” Mattke and life partner, Kristine Blumberg Wenkle of New Holstein WI; grandson, David and wife, Kristyn (Lantagne) Mattke of Windham NH; grand-daughter, Susan Mattke-Robinson and fiancé Isaac Dessommes of Portland OR; daughter Mary C. Mattke and life partner, Joseph F. Patterson of Bloomfield CT; grand-daughter Michelle E. Jones and fiancé Ryan Johnson of Glastonbury CT; grandson, Russell A. Jones of Cromwell CT; and grand-daughter Kimberly V. Jones of Brooklyn NY. She is also survived by her sister Judith’s children and descendents, John’s siblings’ descendents as well as her many Thede and Jochimsen cousins and their descendents living throughout Wisconsin and across the country, and friends all over the world.
Mom was an extraordinary true forwardthinking woman, especially for her times. She inspired myriads of people, many of whom she never met.
Private family gatherings will be held now and at later dates.
A celebration of Mom’s life will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, October 16, 2015, at the Sippel Funeral Home 2618 Altona Avenue New Holstein, Wisconsin 53079.
Family and friends may call at the funeral home Friday morning, October 16th from 10:00AM until the time of services.
Private burial will take place in the New Holstein City Cemetery.
For additional information, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home (920) 898-4300
In lieu of flowers, a Scholarship Fund will be established in her memory.
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