Obituary of Ruth Rotheisler

Ruth Rotheisler

Ruth Anne (Kilbach) Rotheisler passed away peacefully on November 2, 2023 at the Foyer D’Youville in Gravelbourg at the age of 97. Ruth was born on February 15, 1926 on the farm in the Bateman area. She was the eldest of nine children born to Philip and Eva Kilbach.

Ruth attended Arland School until grade eight. The children walked to school, approximately 5 miles round trip. In the winter they used a horse and buggy.  As a young girl, she assumed great responsibilities helping to care for her younger siblings. In later years, Ruth worked at the Star Cafe’ in Gravelbourg and continued to support her siblings.

In 1945 she married the love of her life, Philip Rotheisler. Times were very tough, and for the first year or so they lived with Philip’s parents, along with Philip’s three brothers and their wives, and Philip’s three younger siblings. Philip and Ruth were blessed with four children, three boys and one girl. They were very active in their church in Bateman, and later in Gravelbourg. She was very involved in the Lutheran Women’s League, and always tried to instill strong Christian values in their children.

Ruth took the most pride in her family and in later years her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She always maintained a very strong bond with all of her siblings, and their families. Ruth was an amazing hostess, often entertaining twenty to thirty people in her little 550-square-foot house, feeding everyone and having children sleep wherever they could find a spot. She loved cooking, sewing, gardening, playing cards with family and neighbours, singing in the choir, bible study, bowling twice a week, and daily family devotions were a must.

Philip and Ruth travelled extensively, Europe, Hawaii, Jamaica, Florida, California, Arizona, and numerous excursions with family and friends, right here in Canada.

Ruth is predeceased by her husband, Philip; parents, Philip and Eva Kilbach; siblings, Harold, Elwood, Albert, Clarence, Elmer, Roy, and sister, Edna; brothers-in-law, Rudy Mayer and Les Yantz.

She is survived by her sister, Hilda Mayer; sisters-in-law Kathy Kilbach, Grace Kilbach, Marguerite Kilbach, and Teresa Rotheisler; her children, son Wayne (Bernice), daughter Gail (Brian Pritchard), son Mark (Audrey) and son David (Loni); nine grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Ruth’s Life will be held on November 11, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Assumption Co-Cathedral in Gravelbourg.

Memorial donations in Ruth’s memory may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Gravelbourg or the  Foyer d’Youville Activity Fund, Gravelbourg.