Ruth Gober passed away on Friday, December 14th, 2007, at her home in Tempe, AZ. A longtime resident of Kenosha, Ruth was born in Goodman, WI, on February 12, 1914. Soon thereafter, parents John Patrick Ryan I and Maude Viens Ryan moved to Iron Mountain, MI, where they raised Ruth and her brother, John Patrick II, and sister, Dorothy Jane, amid the sparkling lakes and verdant forests of the Upper Peninsula. In an era when just three percent of American women attended college, Ruth received a bachelors degree from Northern State Teachers College in Marquette, MI, in 1934 and went on to teach business education in the Iron Mountain area during the Depression years. She met Tony Gober, a Kenosha native, in 1935, and they married in the Quad Cities in 1942. After the War, Ruth and Tony moved to Kenosha where Ruth taught typing and shorthand at Kenosha High School from 1952 until she retired in 1979. She was especially proud of the many young women from her classes that she placed in local professional offices. After retirement, Ruth and Tony frequented the golf courses, swimming pools, and card tables of Kenosha and were proud members of the Danish Brotherhood and Sisterhood until Tony passed away in 2000. Ruth is remembered as a loving and generous wife, mother and grandmother; a gracious hostess; stalwart supporter of the Gober and Ryan families; and an independent woman fiercely proud of her long teaching career. She is survived by her daughter, Patricia Gober, of Tempe, AZ; granddaughter, Kelly Graf, of New York City; brother-in-law, Jack White, of Spread Eagle, WI; and 15 nieces and nephews spread across the country from Anchorage, AK, to Tampa, FL. A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, December 21st, at St. Mary Catholic Church at 10:30 am. Interment will be private. Visitation will be held on Thursday at Proko Funeral Home from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm.Proko Funeral Home & Crematory5111-60th StreetKenosha, WI 53144Phone: (262) 654-3533Visit Ruth's Online Memorial Book at:www.prokofuneralhome.com
Condolences
Theresa Eberhage (aka Theresa Smith)
December 21, 2007
Ruth was an outstanding teacher to me as a young girl in her office procedures class at Mary D. Bradford. She was such a wonderful role model to me. She was so motivating and had instilled much confidence in her students' abilities to learn office procedures and to become "employable" for life. She always demonstrated passion and a drive for excellence. She inspired me to be a professional busines woman. She was my entree to the business world. I have benefited from knowing her. I will always be grateful as a graduate of Ruth Gober.
Chuck Limpert
December 20, 2007
I had the privilege of having Ruth Gober as my typing teacher while at Kenosha High School (59-61). She was a wonderful teacher and individual. She mentioned how proud she was of placing young women who took her course in professional positions. Well, I can attest that she also influenced a lot of young men too and helped them in their career. She also remembered you years later if she happened to see you again. I was fortunate to have known her.
george manesis
December 20, 2007
it was my honor and privilege to work with ruth after my arrival on the staff of mary bradford in 1963. she was in every respect a lady and a professional! she will be missed dearly! our sincere condolences! george and georgia manesis
Katie Panek
December 20, 2007
I have such fond memories of Aunt Ruth growing up. My sister, brother and I loved to go to Aunt Ruth & Uncle Tony's house to play card games and watch the Packer games. She was always a spot of sunshine, always smiling, always giving. I will miss her dearly.
Kimra Moore
December 19, 2007
My deepest condolences to your family. I am a former student of Mrs. Gober's from Bradford High School class of 1976. She was such a caring person and a wonderful teacher! I saw her a few times after graduation and she was always most interested in my career and if I was enjoying what I was doing. She had quite a remarkable memory, as she always remembered my name and knew I worked at SC Johnson. She would be so happy to know I still remember shorthand after 30 years of employment! She would have been so proud of the obituary in the Kenosha News. May all of your memories help you through this sad time and find comfort in knowing that God is good and his promise of eternal life assures you a reunion in heaven!
Jayne Hewittt Baldwin
December 19, 2007
My sympathy to your family. I have fond memories of seeing Ruth and Tony in Arizona and Kenosha while visiting my mom, Anne Hewitt Federmeyer. Ruth was always a joy to talk to and I know she was a good friend to my mom. I am sure she will be missed by all of you.
Joann Norton Myers
December 19, 2007
I am a 1955 graduate of Mary D. Bradford High School and Mrs. Gober was my typing/business teacher. I will always remember her recommendation to present yourself very professionally when applying for work - she said to wear a hat and gloves, which at that time was very appropriate. How times have changed. At 18 I was offered and accepted a job a Great Lakes Naval Training Center and at 70 am still working in the field that was taught to me by Mrs. Gober. She was a great teacher! Please accept my sympathy.Joann Norton Myers, Spring Valley, CA
BARBARA PUGH
December 19, 2007
I TOOK TYPING AND SHORTHAND FROM MRS. GOBER IN 1956 AND 1957. I THEN WENT TO SPENCERIAN COLLEGE IN MILWAUKEE. I HAD SEVERAL JOBS AND WORKED AT CARTHAGE COLLEGE IN THE BEGINNING AND THEN WORKED AT IBM FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS IN CALIFORNIA. I AM SURE THAT THOSE TYPING AND SHORTHAND DRILLS HELPED ME ALOT. SHE SHOULD FEEL VERY HAPPY OF THE MANY LIFES THAT SHE TOUCHED AND THAT SHE HAD A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL LIFE.