RUTH DICKSON's Obituary
Ruth Marie (Selwitschka) Dickson, age 83, peacefully passed away Saturday, April 15, 2017 surrounded by family. She married Wallace Dickson on January 28,1950. Ruth is survived by her children Christine (Donald) Zemke, Susan Dickson, Douglas (Diane) Dickson and Daniel (Jody) Dickson. Her grandchildren: Scott (Tammy) Zemke, James (Jen) Zemke, Angela Zemke, KC Dickson, Nic (Gwen) Dickson, Heidi Dickson (special Brad), Heather (Carol) Luebke Monroe, and Jamie Smith. Her great grandchildren: Katie (Tim) Stegeman, AJ Zemke, Nate Zemke, Rebecca Duwe, Jordan Duwe, Regen (Crystal Moreau} Zemke, Ciarra Zemke, Dylan (Megan) Loos, Austin Loos, Isaac Wallace Dickson, Reilly Dickson and Danica Dickson. Ruth’s great, great grandchildren: Maci Stegeman, Malachi Stegeman, Marli Ruth Stegeman; (futue Stegeman in May), Annabelle Zemke and Myles Loos. Ruth is further survived by siblings William (June) Selwitschka, John (Roulande) Selwitschka, Jim (Judy) Selwitschka), Jerry (Debbie) Selwitschka, Fran Mondl, Donna (Jack) Calkins, Helen Selwitschka and many nephews, nieces and their children. Her in-law family are Shirley (Ed) Behm, Audrey Witkowski, Beulah Dickson and nephews, nieces and their children. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Wallace James Dickson on June 29, 2009, parents William and Daisy (Laudenklaus) Selwitschka, Sy and Julia (Selwitschka) Griswold, Jack Selwitschka, Carol (Veith) Selwitschka, Carol (Batterman) Selwitschka, Bruce and Audrey ( Dickson, Dick Mondl, Andy Witkowski, Bee Dickson, and Arnold Dickson.
Ruth was born at home in Oshkosh on October 22, 1933. She really enjoyed being part of a huge family, having their own hi-holder gang so to speak. Family loyalty was one of her strongest assets, an attribute she passed down. She had many tales from her childhood which made us all laugh including family and parochial school experiences. She grew into quite a jitterbug dancer while young. Wally honored her 25th anniversary wish which was for him to learn to dance. How elegant they became on the dance floor, even to the point of telling us they were selected to be in a television commercial. We all anxiously waited for the commercial and had a laugh as we recognized their images from the knees down. Dancing constituted a huge part of their life when they became empty nesters. We would go to Milwaukee and watch them on the dance floor. They belonged to two dance clubs, Oshkosh and Atlanta. We have the fondest memories of our annual camping outings. She introduced us to the wonders of God, either being in the woods, sailing, fire making or star gazing. There were no complaints as the six of us crammed into the rambler headed for California, Danny with his army men and watching Chris scream as her girdle flew out the window in the desert. Mom saw the ocean the first time with the family. Her excellent cooking produced favorites like potato dumplings, strawberry jam, banana bread, fudge, pizza, chocolate chip cookies, apple pie, beef stew, lasagna, liver and onions, chocolate raisin and peanut clusters at Christmas time and velveeta creamettes. In her senior years, she enjoyed eating “special” bread and bagels, tomatoes, “Jody” dinners and twinkies. She loved having everyone’s favorite food in the house from pickles to lobster. She liked being fussed over when visiting, having her favorite spam salad and meatballs.
Favorite sayings Ruth used are “phases”, all behavior she seemed to dislike was “just a phase” and frustration came out as “oh pooh”. She loved watching the packers ALONE, we all knew not to call or visit while a game was on. Other favorite shows were tennis matches, detective shows, “Dancing with The Stars” and old time movies like “Dark Shadows”. Her radio favorites were “The Shadow Knows” and Elvis Presley songs. Her hobbies through the years started with a love for playing baseball, a sport she was apparently good at because she willed her talent to a school classmate. Her ability gravitated to bowling in which she had many newspaper clippings which told of her talent. Wally bought her a sewing machine, but he turned out to be the one to excel at sewing. She bought knitting needles and stopped after her one and only accomplishment with them, a tangerine mohair shawl. Her bridge card playing became very competitive, entering tournaments with Wally and Bill and Carol Selwitschka. She loved playing games and she had the ability to make people laugh, especially Dad as she imitated gangsters.
Ruth’s love story began at Sunlight Dairy when a handsome young man with blue eyes kept stepping on her heels from behind (Wally of course). When he returned from the war, he found her working at Connie’s Meat Market. She was all of 15 but they knew they were meant for each other. Turned out they were both right. Ruth went on to work at Kroger’s Grocery, Tanning Factory, Race Office Supply, Goodyear Tire, Dunkin Donuts, Paper Tiger bookstore and a Georgia dry cleaner. She had a strong love for animals which generations following her inherited. Blacky, our cocker spaniel, was an outside dog. Next came Nippy (appropriately named), was HER parakeet except when it came time to clean the cage. She would sit on her footstool next to Nippy’s cage drinking her Pepsi. She surprised us with a peached colored poodle named Chi Chi, who fell in love with her slippers. The boys had a blast with her as they gloved themselves to retrieve them from the bedroom. Before we knew it, our home had a “puppy room”. Frisky was born first with no help from Chi Chi as she kept licking Frisky like a lollipop with no success. Wally stepped in, broke the sac, gave mouth to mouth resuscitation and presto - we were a two dog family. She also fell in love with a funny little white along the back of his tail “sSnowball” who mysteriously disappeared. Along came Sparky, the last dog Ruth had. If dogs can talk in heaven what tales he will have to tell as he was her listening companion in Georgia when she was home alone.
When she would take off for Florida for the winters with Wally, she would remind us “no news is good news” and they will see us when they get back, don’t worry. She has travelled from Mexico to Hawaii, east coast to west.
Ruth has left a true legacy of bravery. She had many medical challenges that she always faced with courage, leaving her family an epic example to follow. She overcame cancer twice and everything from heart complications to arthritis to metal rods in her back, brain aneurism, diabetes and strokes. Everyone touched by Ruth’s life will have special memories as she loved everyone, although she didn’t like talking politics or religion. Our world is at a loss without her but we all hope she is loving and singing praises to Jesus on his throne, wrapped up in Dad’s arms.
A very special thank you to the people from Aurora Hospital – Oshkosh from the doctors, nurses, Home Care, emergency room, intensive care and regular units to Aurora hospice. Your gentleness and well care was especially appreciated.
A memorial service for Ruth will be held on Saturday April 22, at 11:00 AM in Community Church (2351 Ryf Road) with Rev Alan Cleveland officiating. Family and friends may call at the church on Saturday from 9:00 AM until the hour of services.
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