Ruth Gramman Stenger

August 1, 2023 at 3:16 p.m.


Ruth Gramman Stenger, 91 years old of St. Leon, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Originally from St. Mary's (St. Mary's of the Rock parish). Ruth settled into St. Leon after marrying Jake Stenger in 1954. Like many people from small towns of Southeast Indiana, Ruth and Jake met at a local dance. They built a home they loved, which Ruth meticulously cared for, on land owned by Jake's parents.

Ruth was an avid baseball fan, especially of Jake's American Legion Baseball teams. The Reds, especially the Big Red Machine era, was enjoyed by way of radio, television, and attending games beginning at Crosley Field to her dying day. Ruth and Jake made many trips to Plant City and Tampa to watch the Red's spring training. Ruth loved a vacation with the prerequisite of a pool and/or beach included. Renfro Valley and Little Nashville were two other favorite destinations where they enjoyed live country music. 

Saturday nights were alive with poker games and 7up - Ruth was quite the “card shark” usually ending on the winning side of the game. Yelling “Bingo!” and ripping open instants was a close second on the list of Ruth's favorites. She enjoyed her daily game shows including Price is Right, Jeopardy, and Wheel of Fortune. Ruth was a homemaker, passing down her cleaning skills to all three of her children. It was said “you could eat off Ruth's floor.” 

One of her early jobs, before marrying, was ironing at Meyers Cleaners in Batesville in which she was charged with ironing the many wedding and bridesmaid dresses of that era. As her last child was finishing out high school, Ruth was back in the workforce again at Tiffany's Bakery in Northgate Mall. After its closing, Ruth enjoyed the many old and new friends she connected with while working at Batesville's Schmidt Bakery until her retirement. 

Ruth will be deeply missed by Jake, her husband of 68 years; children Terri Gardner of Batesville, Jerry (Sandy) Stenger of St. Leon, Lynn (Ric) Hertel of Batesville; siblings Wilfred Gramman and Carrol Gramman; eight grandchildren Sam, Kate, Bill, Carly, Kira, James, Jessica and Tripp and four great-grandchildren, Madison, Tommy, Ruby and Ophelia. She is preceded in death by siblings Lucille Teufel, Melvin Gramman, Dolores Ginder, Donald Gramman, Floyd Gramman, Sylvia Erhardt, and Harold Gramman and parents Frances and Leo Gramman.

Visitation for Ruth will be held on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, in St. Joseph Church, St. Leon. Rosary will begin at 10:00 a.m. with visitation directly following until 1:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 1:00 p.m. and burial will immediately follow in the church cemetery. For those unable to attend, Mass will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/aspweeklyhomily. Memorials may be made to All Saints Parish, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and mass intentions. Memorials will be accepted at the visitation or may be mailed to Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home. Family and friends are encouraged to leave condolences at www.andres-wuestefeldfh.com

Paid obituary

Ruth Gramman Stenger, 91 years old of St. Leon, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Originally from St. Mary's (St. Mary's of the Rock parish). Ruth settled into St. Leon after marrying Jake Stenger in 1954. Like many people from small towns of Southeast Indiana, Ruth and Jake met at a local dance. They built a home they loved, which Ruth meticulously cared for, on land owned by Jake's parents.

Ruth was an avid baseball fan, especially of Jake's American Legion Baseball teams. The Reds, especially the Big Red Machine era, was enjoyed by way of radio, television, and attending games beginning at Crosley Field to her dying day. Ruth and Jake made many trips to Plant City and Tampa to watch the Red's spring training. Ruth loved a vacation with the prerequisite of a pool and/or beach included. Renfro Valley and Little Nashville were two other favorite destinations where they enjoyed live country music. 

Saturday nights were alive with poker games and 7up - Ruth was quite the “card shark” usually ending on the winning side of the game. Yelling “Bingo!” and ripping open instants was a close second on the list of Ruth's favorites. She enjoyed her daily game shows including Price is Right, Jeopardy, and Wheel of Fortune. Ruth was a homemaker, passing down her cleaning skills to all three of her children. It was said “you could eat off Ruth's floor.” 

One of her early jobs, before marrying, was ironing at Meyers Cleaners in Batesville in which she was charged with ironing the many wedding and bridesmaid dresses of that era. As her last child was finishing out high school, Ruth was back in the workforce again at Tiffany's Bakery in Northgate Mall. After its closing, Ruth enjoyed the many old and new friends she connected with while working at Batesville's Schmidt Bakery until her retirement. 

Ruth will be deeply missed by Jake, her husband of 68 years; children Terri Gardner of Batesville, Jerry (Sandy) Stenger of St. Leon, Lynn (Ric) Hertel of Batesville; siblings Wilfred Gramman and Carrol Gramman; eight grandchildren Sam, Kate, Bill, Carly, Kira, James, Jessica and Tripp and four great-grandchildren, Madison, Tommy, Ruby and Ophelia. She is preceded in death by siblings Lucille Teufel, Melvin Gramman, Dolores Ginder, Donald Gramman, Floyd Gramman, Sylvia Erhardt, and Harold Gramman and parents Frances and Leo Gramman.

Visitation for Ruth will be held on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, in St. Joseph Church, St. Leon. Rosary will begin at 10:00 a.m. with visitation directly following until 1:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 1:00 p.m. and burial will immediately follow in the church cemetery. For those unable to attend, Mass will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/user/aspweeklyhomily. Memorials may be made to All Saints Parish, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and mass intentions. Memorials will be accepted at the visitation or may be mailed to Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home. Family and friends are encouraged to leave condolences at www.andres-wuestefeldfh.com

Paid obituary

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