Ruth A. Hirsbrunner
Ruth Adeline Hirsbrunner, age 89 of Darlington, WI left for her heavenly home on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Meriter Hospital in Madison, WI of natural causes. She was born March 6, 1929 the daughter of Edward and Louise (Stauffacher) Hirsbrunner in a farm house in Lafayette County. She attended grade school at Woods Branch rural school and graduated from Darlington High School in 1946. She later graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville with a degree in Secondary Education in 1950 and in Elementary Education in 1954. Ruth continued her education and received her Masters in Education from UW-Platteville. Ruth loved teaching and experiencing new adventures. She combined the two by teaching in Wisconsin, Illinois and California also reaching out to Argentina, Morocco, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Ruth loved her students, her adventures; such as climbing a pyramid and going deep into a gold mine.
Ruth fiercely loved her 15 nieces, nephews, their spouses, and their children. They affectionately gave her special nicknames: Boo, Froose, Woofie, Feifo, and Nanoofie. Her students also gave her nicknames. One of her favorite was from a second grader, “Miss Funsbrunner.
After teaching for 30 years, the last 10 spent teaching in Saudi Arabia, she returned to Darlington where she worked at Lands’ End for 10 years and did volunteer work at her church festivals and all other activities. She was a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ in Darlington, Historical Society, Garden Club of Darlington, Lafayette Manor Auxiliary and the Home Community Education, and a past member of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. She loved playing Bridge, gardening and doing crafts.
Ruth is survived by her sister: Jody Deery of Rockford, IL and her dear nieces and nephews. She lost her brother John in 2004, his wife Geri in 2017, her brother George in 2016, his wife Shirley in 1994, and her brother-in-law Hugh G. Deery in 1984.
A Celebration of Ruth’s Life will be held Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at 11:00 A.M at Immanuel United Church of Christ with Rev. Barbara Brakey officiating. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at the church from 9:00 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. The Erickson Funeral Home in Darlington is serving the family. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.