Roebke, Harry

Other Events:

• 1940 Census: 1940, Wrightstown, Brown, Wisconsin, USA

Notes:

1940 Census:
Harry Roebke 40
Esther Roebke 32
Ruth Roebke 3
Walter Spietz 20
Roland Schwalenberg 18

Harry — Ihlenfeldt, Esther Emma Wilhelmina. Esther (daughter of Ihlenfeldt, Paul and Braun, Karolina) was born 14 Feb 1908; died 19 Dec 1990; was buried , St. John Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, Wrightstown, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Education - High School: 1954, Wrightstown, Brown, Wisconsin, USA
• Obituary: 27 Jun 2018; APC

Notes:

Education - High School:
Wrightstown High School Class of 1954

Obituary:
Wrightstown - Ruth D. Roebke-Berens, 81, Wrightstown, died June 22, 2018 at the Bay Shore Nursing Home in Green Bay.
Ruth Diane Roebke was born on September 29, 1936 to the late Harry and Esther (Ihlenfeldt) Roebke. Her grade school years were at the Wrightstown Elementary School and at St. John Lutheran School in Wrightstown. Ruth continued her education at Wrightstown High School. She grew up on the family farm on Shanty Road, driving tractors and milking cows.
After working for three years at Aid Association for Lutherans in Appleton, Ruth attended Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana (where she earned her bachelor's degree) and Marquette University in Milwaukee (where she earned both a master's degree and a doctorate in history).
After graduating from Valparaiso University, Ruth taught for nine years at Milwaukee Lutheran High School. In 1969 she was chosen to participate in a Fulbright Summer Seminar in India. Ruth's research took her to many countries including Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Poland. She was especially proud of locating and visiting the villages where her Roebke ancestors lived before immigrating to Wrightstown.
She met her husband, John Berens, while both were attending graduate school at Marquette University; they were married on April 9, 1977 in Milwaukee. After teaching for four years at Concordia University in Milwaukee, Ruth and her husband moved to Marquette, Michigan in 1978, joining the History Department at Northern Michigan University. Ruth worked at NMU for 22 years as a history professor and university administrator, retiring in December 2000. She was awarded Excellence in Teaching awards by both Milwaukee Lutheran High School and Northern Michigan University.
Ruth was active in the Wrightstown community throughout her life. Known by all as the "village historian," she wrote a book-length history of Wrightstown in 1971. After her retirement she became active in the Wrightstown Historical Society. She wrote the 2001 re-enactment for the Village Centennial. Ruth and her husband also wrote many historical articles for local newspapers, which were published in two books, Village on the Fox (2007) and Wrightstown Remembered (2010).
Ruth was an active member of St. John Ev. Lutheran Church. She was baptized on October 11, 1936 and confirmed on May 14, 1950. Her confirmation verses— John 10:27-28: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand— always had a special importance for her. Ruth wrote a history of the congregation for its 125th anniversary in 1994 and histories of the church and school for a history of the Northeastern Wisconsin District of the Wisconsin Synod published in 2000. She also produced a video history of St. John Lutheran Elementary School for its 50th anniversary in 1996. Ruth enjoyed visiting St. John School to show the students historic photographs and to talk about the history of Wrightstown.
In retirement Ruth enjoyed semi-annual get-togethers and reunions with her Wrightstown High School classmates from the Class of 1954.
Ruth loved animals throughout her life and had great joy providing care and love for these special creatures of God
Ruth was preceded in death by her mother and father and sister Lois Ann. Survivors include her husband John; brother David, sister-in-law Kathleen, and niece Eve Roebke of Chicago; and many dear cousins and friends.
Friends may call at the DeWane-Cotter Funeral Home, 711 Main St., Wrightstown on Friday, June 29, from 5 to 8 pm. Visitation will continue on June 30 from 9:30 to 10:45 am at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wrightstown. The funeral service will be held 11 am June 30 at the church with the Rev. Mike Gehl officiating. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Wrightstown. Online condolences may be expressed to Ruth's family at www.cotterfuneralhome.com
The family extends its deepest appreciation to the dedicated staff of Bay Shore Nursing Home for the care they provided Ruth during her last months.
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent from June 27 to June 28, 2018

Ruth married Berens, John [Group Sheet]