Ruby Rosella Jahnke

August 4, 1938–April 7, 2024

Ruby Rosella Jahnke, age 85, Sheboygan Falls, Wisc., formerly of Fennimore, went to be with her Lord on the morning of Sunday, April 7, 2024, at the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice in Sheboygan Falls. 

She was born on August 4, 1938, in Wyalusing Township Grant County, the daughter of Louis and Lela (Ariss) Braudt. Ruby graduated from Patch Grove High School.

Ruby was united in marriage to Clifford Jahnke on August 12, 1956, at the Mount Hope United Methodist Church in Mount Hope.  

Clifford and Ruby raised beef cattle outside of Lancaster for 25 years. Ruby was employed as the civil defense director and highway safety coordinator of Grant County for nearly 30 years, the first woman in Wisconsin to hold that position. 

They moved to Fennimore in 1982 and eventually built a home in 2002. After the death of her husband, Ruby moved to Sheboygan Falls to be closer to her daughters. She loved her plants and flowers, camping, traveling the rustic roads of Wisconsin and her dog, Buddy. 

Ruby is survived by her two daughters, Lela (Dennis) Boettcher and Della (Tim Socha) Jahnke, both of Sheboygan Falls; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and brother-in-law, Gary (Sylvia) Jahnke, of Lancaster , and many nieces and nephews.

Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clifford, on October 3, 2016; her daughter, Rosella “Rosie” Jahnke, on September 20, 2005; her son, Duane, on August 28, 2012; her grandson, Joshua Warpinski, on February 27, 2016; her brother, Dale Braudt; and her sister and brother-in-law, Mariajane and Aelred “Hop” Mezera.

A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at the Bethlehem E&R Church in Lancaster. Visitation was from 9 a.m. until the time of service. Burial followed in the Liberty Ridge Church Cemetery in Liberty Township Grant County. 

The Larson Family Funeral Home in Fennimore is assisting the family and online condolences may be made at www.larsonfuneralhomes.com.