Ruth E. Goeden

Ruth Elsie Goeden passed away on March 9, 2025 at the age of 95, with her daughter Karen and her special friend Ginny by her side. Born 12/22/1929 in the Town of Grafton to Ernst and Frieda Klotz. She married Armand Goeden on 4/21/1951 in Columbia S.C. while Armand served in the U.S. Army. They had 3 children, Karen, and Barbara and Tina. They bought 2 acres of land from her parents in 1962 and built a home making farm land into a park like setting for their enjoyment. Together they enjoyed gardening, bird watching and traveling. Ruth loved to sew and had made her own wedding dress and continued to sew for her family. She also taught sewing for Lakefield 4-H Club. In 1974 after her daughter Barbara died, she went to the University of WI in West Bend taking classes in English, German and Art for 2 years. She continued the love of carving and painting for the rest of her life. Birds and people were her favorite subjects. She taught art and Sunday school for 6-8 grades at Our Savior Lutheran Church and School.

Ruth and Armand traveled to Germany with a tour of Europe and again by themselves visiting with the friends whom they met while working at Milwaukee’s GermanFest. They also traveled throughout the United States, Mexico, and Jamaica. Through the Alte Kameraden band and German Fest, they housed German people during the German Festival in Milwaukee for a few years making lifetime friends.

Ruth volunteered at Mitchel International Airport as a Travelers Aid for several years. During the elections, she worked as a poll worker for a number of years. Ruth also worked in the beauty shop at Lasata Nursing Home for 6 years. Ruth was a tour guide for Stone House tours in Ozaukee County, and she modeled clothes for Alston’s at Barth’s and Pandel’s restaurant for a couple of years. Ruth and her Armand started a printing business in the basement of their home in 1968. This eventually led to volunteering at the Ozaukee County Pioneer Village in the print shop. They retired from their printing business in 2012.

Ruth and Armand were charter members of Our Savior Lutheran Church which was built on her parents property. Ruth always put God and her family first, taking care of her husband Armand and their daughter Barbara.

Ruth is survived by her daughters Karen (Ken) Sieren, Tina and Fiancée (Tim Benson), grandchildren, Christina Lowdermilk, Ryan Goeden, Cole Kriegel, great -grandchildren, Marcus Hill, Jalen Lowdermilk, Krysten Carl (Goeden) and Logan Goeden, and other nieces, nephews and cousins.

Proceeded in death by her parents, Ernst and Frieda Klotz, husband Armand, daughter Barbara, granddaughter Amanda Kriegel, grandson Justin Kriegel, sisters Dorothy Hawes and Mildred Morison, brother and sister-in-laws.

The family would like to personally thank Aurora Medical Clinic, Port Washington with Dr. Scott Wilfong and his staff for their kindness and caring matter with our parents over the past 20+ years. A special thank you to mom’s dear friends, Annette Favorite, Bob Duckart, Sue Schnell, and Rod Bollinger for their visits with mom over the past couple of months and a special shout out to all our family and friends checking in by phone or internet to see how we all were doing. Mom would always talk about how important God, family, and friends were in her life and she is forever grateful.

There will be a funeral service held for Ruth on Friday, March 14, 2025, at 11:30 AM at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Grafton. A visitation will take place from 10:30 till 11:15 AM at the church. A private burial will take place at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Our Savior Lutheran Church, Disabled Veterans National Foundation, or the Wisconsin Humane Society are appreciated.