Ruth Pischke
May 21, 2018
Ruth Pischke,
98, of Baraboo, passed away on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at St. Clare Meadows Care
Center. Ruth was born
in Waumandee, Wisconsin on August 24, 1919 to Rev. Frederick and Alice
(Walther) Trautmann. As the daughter of a minister, she moved with the family
many times, also living in Mondovi, Milwaukee, Prairie du Sac, Norwalk and Eau
Claire. She graduated from Eau Claire Memorial High School in 1937. Ruth attended
the University of Wisconsin Madison, receiving a Bachelors Degree of Music in
1942. After graduation, she taught music at several schools in Madison and was
also the assistant to the Music Director of Madison radio station WHA. In 1945 Ruth
received a Masters of Organ from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New
Jersey. As a member of the famed Westminster Choir, she appeared with the New
York Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. In
addition, Ruth knew Albert Einstein who would sit in on orchestra practices. When
asked about what instrument Mr. Einstein played, her response was always, “He
played the violin. He didn’t play it well but nobody told him that.” In 1945 Ruth
accepted a position teaching music and piano at Midland College in Freemont,
Nebraska. While there, a medical student named Eugene Pischke enrolled in her
piano class. She has said that he wouldn’t practice so she had no choice but to
give him a failing grade – and on August 1, 1947 become his wife. They lived in
Omaha, Nebraska and Hayes Springs, Nebraska before moving to Baraboo in 1955
where Gene established his medical practice. The Baraboo
Elementary School music department and the Jr. High Girls Glee Club benefited from
Ruth’s teaching talent for 23 years. In 1987 Ruth retired but maintained her
interests in music as demonstrated by her participation in the Theater Guild’s musical
productions and her devotion to her position in her church playing the pipe
organ well into her senior years. Ruth also volunteered at the Circus World
Museum as a member of the circus band and played the calliope both at the
museum and in the Great Circus Parade in Milwaukee until she was 80 years old. Ruth loved to
travel. Her journeys took her to Scotland, London, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland
and New Zealand. Ruth is
survived by four children, Ruth Marie (Brian) Peterson of Eau Claire, Steve
(Marcia) Pischke of Custer, South Dakota, Tina (David) Williams of Mazomanie,
and Cathy Schroeder of Baraboo. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Sam
and Emily Williams, Sara and Shanna Schroeder and Brian (Jill) Pischke; and a
great granddaughter, Joslyn Pischke. She is preceded in death by her husband
and her parents. Funeral
services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at Emanuel United
Methodist Church, 101 14 th
St., Baraboo, with Pastor Blake Overlien
officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. until time of
service. Interment will be held in Walnut Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to the Emanuel United Methodist Church organ fund. The family wishes to thank the staff
of St. Clare Meadows Care Center, Dr. Flygt and Dr. Hamburg for the excellent
care Ruth received while residing there. The Rago-Baldwin Funeral Home, 520
East St., Baraboo, is assisting the family with arrangements.
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