GAERIG, Ruth Gloria (nee Kinman)  1921-2016

Ruth Gloria (nee Kinman) Gaerig died in Dearborn, Michigan, on July 18, 2016, at the age of 95 years.  Ruth was born on March 2, 1921 in Dowell, Illinois, the second child of the late Helen Jaroski and Ransom Kinman, and stepdaughter of the late George Jasecko.  Ruth had one sibling, the late Alice Marie (nee Kinman) Eubanks.  The sisters spent most of their formative years in the DuQuoin, Illinois, area, attending Sacred Heart Catholic School through high school graduation.  Ruth earned a beauty operator's license in DuQuoin before enlisting as a WAVE, serving as Yeoman 1st Class in Washington DC for the duration of World War II.  At the end of the war, Ruth wed her DuQuoin sweetheart, USMC Carl Gaerig, with whom she enjoyed 68 wonderful years of marriage prior to his death in 2013.  Carl and Ruth first lived in Carbondale while they attended Southern Illinois University; subsequent work opportunities took them to Quincy, Illinois; Davenport, Iowa; Jackson, Michigan; and Dearborn.  Ruth and Carl had four children: Carla (Fred Guild), George (Peg Krause), Stephen (Linda Schimm), and Maureen (Michael Malinowski).  Ruth was an active member of Divine Child Parish, of the VFW Ladies' Auxiliary, served as secretary for her local WAVES National, and worked for the Dearborn Public Library system when their children were older.  While she most enjoyed being with her grandchildren (Victoria, Rebecca, Freddie, Andrew, Christopher, Vanessa, Kaitlyn, Matthew, Marissa, Mitchel) and four great-grandchildren, Ruth was an avid collector of dolls, china, jewelry, and antiques, and frequently traveled with Carl to see friends, family, and attend gatherings of veterans.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial contributions to WAVES National Great Lakes, 2917 Porter Ct.,Grandville, MI  49418.

Visitation will take place Friday, July 22, 2016, 4:00pm-8:00pm at the Dearborn Chapel of the Howe-Peterson Funeral Home, 22546 Michigan Ave., with a VFW Service at 5:30pm and a Rosary at 6:30pm.  The Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, at Divine Child Catholic Church, 1055 N. Silvery Ln., Dearborn, 48128 with an In State time of 9:30am.  Interment at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Monday, July 25, 2016, 10:30am.