Ruth Ann (Omdoll) Mueller

Ruth Ann (Omdoll) Mueller, a lifelong resident of Palmyra, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, June 7, 2024 in Westfield, WI.

Ruth Ann was born on February 22, 1941 in Rice Lake, WI to James W. and Geraldine M. (Finke) Omdoll, Sr. The family moved back to Palmyra when Ruth was about two months old. In 1959, Ruth graduated from Palmyra High School and on May 18, 1960 she was united in marriage to Willard L. Barton, Jr. The couple had five children, Deborah Lydia, Sherry, Penny, Steven, and James. After Willard passed, Ruth Ann later married Dale W. Mueller on October 2, 1993.

Ruth Ann was an active, life-long member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School for many years and served as Sunday School Superintendent for four consecutive years. She also served on the Memorial and Worship Committees, Altar guild, the women’s group, where she held several different offices, and she also sang in the church choir. Ruth Ann was a member of the Palmyra Women’s Club for over 50 years, the Palmyra Historical Society, where she also served on the Board of Directors for several years during which time she wrote the Historical Societies Newsletter and seven books on the history of Palmyra. Ruth Ann also served on the Palmyra Village Board for seven years and sat on the Fire District Board for five. She is a member and former officer of AAL, the Palmyra Historic Preservation Commission, the Wisconsin Regional Artists Association and the Whitewater Arts Alliance. She was also a member of the Palmyra and  Palmyra-Eagle High School Alumni Association for years.

Ruth Ann graduated from the Institute of Children’s Literature in 1985 and completed two journalism courses from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1988. Ruth Ann was a published author and poet and in 1991 received “The Local History Award of Merit” from the state of Wisconsin for her distinguished service to local history.

In conjunction with being a homemaker she also worked part-time in the family owned “Gamble” store in Palmyra and later worked in the office of Roy’s Truck Service and was the Office Manager of the local newspaper The Palmyra Enterprise for 17 years.  In 1994 she started her own business with The Avon Company for Women and was awarded the “Spirit of Avon” award in 2005. In 2007 she started freelancing for several newspapers and wrote five tourism guide books on Palmyra for the Palmyra Chamber of Commerce. She also co-authored the one-hundredth year anniversary book on the Palmyra State Bank and had her first children’s book, “Bumpy Bear’s Escape” published in 2011. Ruth Ann lived a full life and she will be sincerely missed by those she leaves behind.

She is survived by: her children, Sherry (Edward) Cruz of Jackson, MO, and Penny (Steve) Shekels of Westfield, WI, her 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, her sister, Janet Kelly of Lake Geneva, WI; her brother, Paul Omdoll of Naples, FL, and her step-daughter, Sharon (Paul) Shaver of Woodstock, IL. She is also survived by a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband Willard, her husband, Dale, three dear children, Deborah Lydia, James Barton and Steven Barton; and her brother, James Omdoll.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Palmyra.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Palmyra, WI. The Rev. Steven M. D. Blyth will officiate the service. Visitation will take place from 9:00AM until the time of service at the church. Ruth Ann will be laid to rest in Hillside Cemetery of Palmyra immediately following the funeral service.

Gibson Family Funeral Homes of Palmyra and Eagle, WI is serving the family. To place an online condolence please visit gibsonfuneral.com

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