Ruth B. Olsen

Ruth B. Olsen, 91 years old, passed away on October 2, 2020. She was born in Milwaukee, WI, the eldest of 5 children, daughter of the late Ervin and Anita (Reimer) Schloemer. She was preceded in death by her sister Marion (Schloemer) Kuhn. She peacefully departed this world to be reunited with her recently departed husband Scott F. Olsen in Heaven. Ruth was the devoted mother of Heidi (Scott) Koval, Robin (Simon) Chan, Kimber (Kraig) Brady, Cory (Patrick) Kohl, and Brandt (Jennifer) Olsen; grandmother to Joshua (Marissa) Koval, Robin (John) Robertson, Erika (Nick) Crawley, Peter (Diane) Chan, Aaron (Lily) Chan, Brianna (Colin) Winslow, Jared Brady, Camille Brady, Luke (Julianna) Brady, Isaac Brady, Jamie (Ryan) Del Balso, Marcy (Scott) Farkas, Caleb Olsen, Nathan Olsen, and Emily Olsen; and great grandmother to Kylie, Annika, Matthew, Bradley, Tyler, Audrey, Charlotte, Julia, Brooke, Aiden, Summer, Zoe, Fiona, Theo, Josephine, Wyn, Selah, Mae, Aviella, Caelen, Adler, Liviya, Ryleigh, and Raegan.

While attending Carthage College, her then-boyfriend asked Scott Olsen to drive Ruth home to Milwaukee. She soon had a new boyfriend and, eventually, a new husband. She and Scott married on September 23, 1950, just over 70 years ago. The happy couple honeymooned at Niagara Falls. They moved to Green Bay, WI, where they started a family at a lovely home on Meacham Street. Ruth gave birth to four girls while living there. October of 1958, they moved to Brookfield, WI, where they purchased the house on 138th Street that became the family home for six decades. It was also where they had their fifth child—to their delight, a son! Ruth was a most dedicated, hardworking, loving mother and wife. While Scott traveled frequently for work, Ruth raised their children, helped with Scott’s business, and took care of the home and yard. She cooked healthy meals, drove the kids to appointments and activities, led a Girl Scout troop for nine years, read books to her children, sewed dresses and drapes, made a sandbox and a little log cabin playhouse for her children, wrapped piles of beautiful gifts for Christmas with handmade bows, did crafts and jigsaw puzzles with her kids, typed and sent letters to each child when they went to camp, threw birthday parties for each of them, took care of them when sick…and countless other acts in which she showed her love to her family. She taught her children discipline and important life values while being a loving example.

Once grandchildren were born she helped with their care, even traveling across the country to be there for a birth. She and Scott traveled the world to visit their children and grandchildren and always welcomed them to move into the family home when they needed to. Each Easter, she filled dozens of plastic eggs of all sizes with a wide assortment of fun and useful items for each of her grandkids, each individually labeled. If a family couldn’t make it to Wisconsin for the holiday, she sent the eggs to them by mail. She became the hub of the family wheel as we spread out across the country, keeping us informed about each other by phone and yearly Christmas letters. As her own mother and mother-in-law aged, she helped and visited them regularly. In their younger days, she and Scott went out to play Bridge with neighbors upon occasion. She had a sweet smile, a big hug, and used to sing while doing dishes. She enjoyed TV game shows, especially Wheel of Fortune, and crossword puzzles. She struggled with her weight through the years, but amazingly lost 100 lbs, becoming Queen of TOPS in her late 70’s. She continued exercising and maintained her healthy habits for most of the rest of her life.

Having grown up attending church it wasn’t until her daughters started attending a Bible study she came to realize she needed to develop a personal relationship with Jesus and eventually dedicated her life to Him.  For most of the rest of her life Ruth rose early every morning to read her Bible and pray for all our needs, she was truly our family’s prayer warrior. She taught Sunday school for countless children and generously supported missionaries and gave to various other causes.

Our family is very grateful for the loving care given to our beloved Mom, Grandma and Great-Grandma by all the nurses and caregivers at the Arboretum, as well as her caring VITAS hospice nurse.

Looking back, one has to wonder how she did all she did for so many. She was one of the most giving, self-sacrificing people one could know. She will always be greatly loved and missed here on Earth. She was certainly welcomed to her heavenly home with a “Well done, good and faithful servant” from her heavenly Father.