Obituary of Ruth F. Brauchli

Ruth F. Brauchli (Schanz), age 102, of Springfield died peacefully Sunday, December 10, 2023 at home surrounded by her family.

Visitation will be held at The Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home, 2122 Millburn Avenue, Maplewood, on Sunday, Dec 17^th from 2:00 – 6:00 PM. The funeral service will be held on Monday, December 18^th at 11:00 AM at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Restland Memorial Park in E. Hanover.

Ruth was born in Maplewood and lived there for more than 70 years before moving to Springfield in 1997.  Ruth received her nursing license from Newark City Hospital Nursing School. She served in the Army as a 1^st Lieutenant during World War II from 1943-1945.  During that time, she was in France from 1944-1945. For her service to France, she was Honored with the rank of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.  Ruth worked for many years at Orange Memorial Hospital in Labor and Delivery and then for Dr. Donald E. Stokes, South Orange for over 20 years. 

Ruth lived a very full and active life.  In addition to her family, she loved the outdoors, playing tennis, swimming at the Town Pools first in Maplewood, then in Springfield, the sun, the beach, birds and her gardens.  She felt that every child should have a dog and she herself had dogs throughout most of her life.  Christmas was always her favorite time of year, making it magical for her boys and then her grandchildren.  Ruth was famous for her Christmas cookies, a tradition that many in her family continue today.  She enjoyed all sorts of handwork and if she didn’t know it, she’d learn and perfect it!  In fact, she loved knitting so much that she and a neighbor opened a yarn shop in Maplewood in her “retirement”, Elegant Yarns.  She used her handwork to give back in many ways seen and unseen.  She knitted caps and receiving blankets for babies of indigent mothers and for those who didn’t survive, she sewed “Angel gowns”.  Ruth also made neckerchiefs for Troop 5 BSA until her eyesight started to fail. Throughout her life until she was 92 years old, she donated her time to caring for ill and terminally ill friends and neighbors.  She had an active mind, was an active reader, Scrabble challenger, and loved crossword puzzles. 

Ruth was predeceased by her parents, Henry P. Schanz and Anna Koerner Schanz and Stepmother Mildred Kirk Schanz, her husband, Harold Brauchli, her sister Gertrude Schanz Sigmann and brother Henry “Duke” Schanz.

She is survived by three sons: Roger R. (Mary Chris), Glenn D. (Pamela) and Dean W. Brauchli, 5 grandchildren Amy, Julie, Beth, Lauren and Daniel and 8 great grandchildren Madalyn, Mason, Mansell, Owen, Olivia, Emma, Eliza and Cooper as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Wounded Warrior Project

 P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 would be appreciated.

For more information or to send condolences please visit jacobhollefuneralhome.com

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