RUTH ANN VANSKIKE
Feb. 17, 1941-March 26, 2015
Memorial service: 10 a.m. Saturday, April 11, Brumback Funeral Home, Stockton. Burial: Veteran’s National Cemetery, Springfield
Ruth Ann (Dwerlkotte) Vanskike, 74, Stockton, died Thursday March 26, 2015, in Big Springs Nursing Home, Humansville. She was born Feb. 17, 1941, to Sylvester H. and Edda Nadine (Oswalt) Dwerlkotte in Marysville, Marshall County, Kansas. She attended St. Gregory Catholic School and Marysville High School.
Ruth married Bob Shanek April 20, 1958, and to this union a son, Robert “Robby” Emery Shanek, was born Nov. 8, 1958. Ruth and Bob later divorced. Ruth met Jim Vanskike in 1961, and they later married April 3, 1967, at Miami, Oklahoma. Ruth traveled with her husband Jim while he worked in several states, until they settled down on a farm east of Stockton in the early 1970s. Ruth worked as a seamstress at Hagale Industries until the closing of the factory in the late 1980s. Ruth then became the first female employed by the Missouri Department of Transportation in the Cedar County district. She worked until her retirement in 2005.
Ruth was hard working, taking care of her farm on her own, even after the death of her husband in 1999. She often expressed her opinion (quite loudly), even when her opinion was not asked. For those who knew her, knew she was not bashful and would always tell you what was on her mind.
Ruth is survived by a son, Robby Shanek; a granddaughter, Amber (Shanek) Kelso; and two great-grandchildren, all of Kansas; four brothers, Sylvis “Allen” Dwerlkotte, John “David” Dwerlkotte, Dean “Leon” Dwerlkotte and wife Jan, all of Stockton, and James Michael Dwerlkotte of Alexandria, Nebraska; a sister, Margaret Lynn (Dwerlkotte) Trim of Springhill, Kansas; three aunts, Helena (Dwerlkotte) Blackburn of West Carrollton, Ohio, Alma Dwerlkotte of Marysville, Kansas, and Barbara Joyce Huddle of Humansville; a special cousin, Sue Ungerer of Liberal, Kansas; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and a niece, Lori Dwerlkotte.
Online condolences can be made at www.brumbackfuneralhome.com.
