Video of Funeral Mass for Ruth Lorge
Ruth M. Lorge, age 91, of the Harbor Club, Port Washington, Wisconsin passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Sunday, June 28, 2020 at Horizon’s Lawlis Family Hospice in Mequon.
Ruth was born on September 5, 1928; daughter of John L. and Cecilia Lecher Schmit. Ruth grew up next to her father’s auto dealership (J.L. Schmit, Buick, Pontiac, Cadillac dealership, “The Columbia Garage”) with her brothers and sisters. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and Port Washington High School.
Ruth married James F. “Jim” (“Big Daddy”) Lorge of Milwaukee at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Port Washington on June 18, 1949. The couple had just recently celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary.
Ruth was a very active homemaker and mom to her family. Ruth taught crocheting classes at the former Port Washington Vocational School and she continued to knit and crochet throughout her life for family and friends. She was active in Boy Scouts, with her children, and in her parish, St. Peter of Alcantara, now St. John XXIII parish. Many will remember Ruth and Jim staffing the take-out ticket booth for Lenten parish fish fries and other parish events. Ruth volunteered for many years at the St. Vincent DePaul Store in Port Washington and was a proud supporter of the Port Washington Historical Society.
For most of her married life, Ruth and family lived on North Montgomery Street in Port Washington, retiring to Scottsdale, AZ in the 1990’s, and returning back to Port in 2003, to be near family.
Ruth is survived by her husband Jim; her children Phil Lorge of Tucson, AZ, Ann Louise Lorge of Port Washington, Al (Nancy) Lorge of North Adams, MA, and Lize (Mike) Keller of Port Washington; her grandchildren Jennifer (David) Anderson, Beth Lorge, Ed Lorge, Max Lorge, Erin McMahon, Bekky (Kodee) Dunham and Emily Keller; great-grandchildren Abigail Anderson and Karsyn Dunham. She is further survived by Ruth’s sister Barbara Bichler of Port Washington, sisters-in-law Audrey Schmit of Bellevue, NB, Carol Ann Filo of Port Washington, and Joan (the late Jerry) Lorge of Appleton, WI, brother-in-law Bob (the late Carol) Lorge of Port Washington, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends.
Ruth is preceded in death by her sisters Cece and her husband Harold “Harry” Preisler and Marion and her husband Frank “Puch” Pujanauski, her brothers Don Schmit, Elmer and his wife Lucille Schmit and Bob and his wife Harriet Schmit, her sister-in-law Mary Joan (“Sis”) and her husband Larry Bruecher, brothers-in-law Dick and his wife Roseann Lorge, and Eugene and his wife Jean Lorge.
We will celebrate Ruth’s life with a Memorial Mass of Resurrection at 4PM Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at St. John XXIII Parish-St. Peter of Alcantara Church, 1802 N. Wisconsin Street, Port Washington, WI. Reverend Patrick Wendt will be the celebrant. Interment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Port Washington at a date yet to be determined.
The family extends a very sincere “thank you” and grateful appreciation to Dr. Fitzsimmons, Dr. Ginster and staff at Aurora Hospital Emergency Room-Grafton, and the staff and employees at Horizon’s Lawlis Family Hospice for their level of professionalism, dedication, compassion, caring, kindness, and respect shown to Ruth and her family during a difficult time. You truly made a difference!
Memorials to Wisconsin Lions Camp, 3834 County Road A, Rosholt, WI 54473 (www.wisconsinlionscamp.com) appreciated.
To uncle Jim and family ,
Our prayers continue for all of you.
Unfortunately Lynn and I cannot addend Ruth^s
service.
Peter and Lynn
We are truly sorry for your loss. We would like to offer you and your family our deepest and most sincere condolences. May the soul of Aunt Ruth rest in peace.
Sympathy to your family. Prayers and thoughts are with you and yours.
Our sympathy to Jim and the family on Ruth’s
passing.