Ruth A. George, 97, of Sterling, IL, passed away Wednesday, August 3, 2022, surrounded by family at Rock River Hospice & Home in Sterling.
Ruth (Heilener) was born June 9, 1925, at the Sterling public hospital, the oldest daughter of Walter and Gesina (Edeus) Heilener. She lived all her life in Emerson, IL, until she and Paul sold their home in Emerson in 2006 and moved into a retirement home in Sterling. She was baptized in the East Genesee Lutheran Church on July 26, 1925, by Pastor Krebe. She attended the Emerson School, graduating in 1938, and was graduated from Sterling High School in 1942. Ruth began working in the Safety Department and later the Personnel Department at Northwestern Steel & Wire in August of 1942. She worked there, except for six months when she was with her husband Paul at several of the Army camps where he was stationed. Ruth retired in December 1945 after her husband was discharged from the service. She married Paul K. George January 28, 1945, after his return from overseas in the Aleutian Islands, near the end of WWII. He preceded her in death on May 13, 2010.
Ruth was a member of the Whiteside County Genealogy Club since 1984, serving as Secretary and later Treasurer for most of those years. Not only had she done research for many of Paul’s and her families, but was a collector of Emerson Memorabilia and the history of that area. She gave several talks on these histories. Ruth gave talks to many organizations in the area about “The History of Outhouses and the Outhouses in [her] Life.” She was a member of the Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society, serving several times on the Board. Ruth was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church since her parents joined when she was four years old. She belonged to the Ladies Circles through the years. Ruth was Co-Chairman for the 100th anniversary celebration of St. Paul’s in 2007. She served as an Election Judge for Hopkins Township until moving to Sterling. Along with her husband Paul, she was a member of the Outaga Campers Club for nearly 30 years. Ruth also worked with him at the Good Neighbors office when it first opened.
Survivors include sons, Alan George of Prophetstown, IL, David George of Port Byron, IL, and Mark George of Milledgeville, IL; two daughters, Susan Kuehl of Morrison, IL, and Carolyn Reppe of Winfield IL; brother, Reverend Ray Heilener of Germantown, TN; sister, Lorraine Knicl of Dixon, IL; 14 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by her husband; parents; daughter, Marcia Rodekamp; grandson, Kevin Reppe; two nieces; two nephews; two daughters in-law; son in-law.
A Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., Monday August 8, 2022, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sterling, IL.
Visitation will be one hour prior, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sterling, IL.
Burial of cremains will immediately follow at Oak Knoll Memorial Park in Sterling, IL.
A memorial has been established.
Condolences may be sent to www.schillingfuneralhome.com.