Ruth Irene Schmidt's Obituary
Ruth I. Schmidt, age 88, passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2024. Ruth was born in Casey, Illinois, to the late Joel K. and Faye E. (Bower) Kemper. A lover of music with significant instrumental talent, in her youth she devoured piano lessons--and after only six weeks of instruction began playing saxophone in the city band. In her youth, Ruth was also a member of Job's Daughters, a Girl Scout, and an in-demand babysitter.
After graduating from Casey High School, Ruth attended Eastern Illinois University and majored in History and minored in Geography. After teaching high school in Rossville, Decatur, and Peoria, she married Frank Schmidt and relocated to the Joliet area. There, she devoted her life to community service, principally through the Channahon Public Library, Minooka United Methodist Church, Will County League of Women Voters, Will County United Way, and Trailways Girl Scout Council. In her "down" time, she played cards as part of a bridge club, kept a vegetable and herb garden, organized neighborhood garage sales, and became the family genealogist.
Eighteen years ago, Ruth and Frank relocated to Charleston to be near Ruth's family. They became members of Wesley United Methodist Church and greatly enjoyed reconnecting with her cousin Linda Knifley, lunching with the "Girls of '54" from Casey High School, attending musical performances at Eastern Illinois University, and watching the herd of deer that regularly visited their yard. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband and by her brother, William Kemper of Bentonville, Arkansas. She is survived by her daughter, Sara, who works in the Sandra and Jack Pine Honors College at EIU.
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