Obituary: Ruth Evelyn Baker Schohl - Class of 1928

MADISON [Wisconsin] - Ruth Evelyn Baker Schohl, age 90, died on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2002, at home. She was born on Oct. 15, 1911, in Madison, the daughter of Wilmont Rich Baker and Lucca Schott Baker. She was married in Chicago, to James J. Schohl of Chicago on Nov. 10, 1943. She was a 1928 graduate of Madison Central High School and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Education in June, 1932. Ruth was employed by the State of Wisconsin and worked for over 40 years in various state departments. Ruth worked for the Wisconsin Department of Taxation (now Revenue) from January 1933, until June 1945. She worked for the Chicago & North Western Railway for four years and after that was employed by the State Annuity and Investment Board and the Teachers Retirement System. Ruth was a secretary for various members of the Wisconsin State Legislature for 21 years, retiring in 1989. She attended and was a member of the Pilgrim Congregational Church (later known as Pilgrim United Church of Christ) from 1919 until its closure. Ruth is survived by her son, Wilmont (Jan) Schohl; and two granddaughters, Kristin and Jennifer Schohl. She is also survived by a great-granddaughter, Taylor Nicole. She was preceded in death by her husband. James on March 7, 1975; her mother on June 18, 1942; her father on Jan. 14, 1947; a son, William James "Skipper" Schohl who was two and a half years old when he died in Chicago on Jan. 21, 1948; her brothers, John, age nine months on Dec. 1, 1909; Robert J. Baker on Aug. 26, 1952; Philip J. (Pat) Baker on Aug. 17, 1992; and a sister, Dorothy Baker Koltes on March 23, 1992. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2002, at 7:30 p.m. at the GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, with the Rev. David Michael of Lake Edge United Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Friends may call on Tuesday at the funeral home at 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. "I would like to go back o'er life's pathway And retrace every footstep I've trod, And remove the rough spots where I stumbled, And erase every vestige and clod. I would like to go back o'er life's journey And call back each harsh word that I've said, Recall every wrong deed or action That caused sorrow or tears to be shed. I would add many words left unspoken, And retract many words idly said, And heal every heart bruised or broken By replacing kind words in their stead. Then, when at the end of life's journey I'm asked my past story to tell, There'd be no rough spots on my pathway, No place where I stumbled or fell." Anonymous Gunderson East Funeral Home (608) 221-5420

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on August 12, 2002; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)