Ruth Elnora Hensler

Ruth Elnora (Klein) Hensler, age 90, of Quinn Road, Bremen, Indiana, passed away on Saturday, October 1, 2005, in the home of her daughter Virginia, with whom she had made her home for the past year.

Born on July 16, 1915, in Penn Township, St. Joseph County, Indiana, to Julius V. Klein and Ida J. (Schalliol) Klein; Ruth married Howard M. Hensler on June 12, 1938, in Madison Township. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Howard on August 3, 1990, and by six brothers, Carl (infant), Paul, Ralph, Lloyd, Victor and Reuben Klein and by 2 sisters, Minnie Smith and Esther Manges.

Survivors include daughters Virginia (R.T.) Henke, Bremen, Indiana, and Donna (Larry) Weston, Bremen, Indiana, and one son, John (Carolyn) Hensler, Oxford, Ohio. Also, nine grandchildren: Susan Henke and her husband Martin McGrath, North Andover, Massachusetts; Julie Henke, Bettendorf, Iowa; Kristen Henke, Leola, Pennsylvania; Stacey (Richard) Strehler, Bremen, Indiana; Ann (Troy) Holmes, Bremen, Indiana; Matthew (Christi) Weston, Kouts, Indiana; Jonathan (Bonnie) Hensler, Avondale Estates, Georgia; Andrew Hensler, Denver, Colorado; Brandon Hensler, Hollywood, Florida. Also, ten great-grandchildren: Kevin, Cameron and Anna McGrath; Samantha and Ty Holmes; Nathan, Andrea and Jacob Strehler; Lauren and Isabel Hensler. Also, two sisters-in-aw, Betty Klein and Alice Klein and many nieces and nephews.

Ruth was a 1933 graduate of Madison Township High School and, after graduation, worked at Ball Band in Mishawaka, Indiana. She then married and became a homemaker and helped her husband in his construction business and managed the family farm after his death. Ruth was a member of the St. John United Church of Christ, Woodland, Indiana, and its Women's Guild. She was also a Sunday school teacher and a member of the choir for many years. She was a charter member of the Miami Home Demonstration Club and a member of Historic Bremen. Ruth, even with her heart condition, still enjoyed spending winters at her home in Avon Park, Florida, traveling, reading, playing games, quilting and gardening. In 1997, Ruth established the Howard and Ruth Hensler Scholarship, administered through the Penn Harris Madison Education Foundation, for students in Madison Township, St. Joseph County.

The Visitation will be from 4-7PM on Monday, October 3, 2005, at the Mishler Funeral Home in Bremen, Indiana, and 1 hour prior to services on Tuesday at the St. John United Church of Christ in Woodland. Services for Mrs. Hensler will be at 10:30AM on Tuesday, October 4, 2005, at the St. John United Church of Christ, State Road 331, in Woodland, Indiana. Burial will be in the St. John Cemetery in Woodland.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John's United Church of Christ, Woodland, Indiana; the Center for Hospice & Pallative Care in South Bend, or a charity of one's choice.