Her funeral will be at 10:00 am on Friday, April 20, 2018 at the Forrest United Methodist Church in Forrest with Pastors Roosevelt Smith and Sharon Monroe officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2018 at Calvert & Martin Funeral Home in Forrest and one hour prior to services at the church on Friday. Burial will follow services at Forrest Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Forrest United Methodist Church or Fairview Haven Retirement Community in Fairbury, IL.
Ruth was born October 3, 1925, a daughter to John W. and Della (Clark) Monroe. She married Wilbur J. Haab on July 17, 1949 at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Reddick, IL. He preceded her in death on October 9, 2012.
Surviving are her children: Dale (Gayle) Haab, Roscoe, IL; Susan (Henry) Stork, Lynn (Mike) Barnett and Dennis Haab all of Forrest; Judy (Rick) Hill, Blue Springs, MO; Steve (Teresa) Haab, Monument, CO; and Karen (Mark) VandenBranden, McCordsville, IN and Inger Helene (Kjell Ove) Nordeide, Førde, Norway. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; a sister Betty Couts, Denver, CO; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a brother: David Monroe; a sister, Valiere Burke; and son-in-law: Daniel Shipley.
Ruth graduate of the University of Illinois, graduating in 1947 with a degree in Home Economics. She first taught at Forrest High School and then at Forrest-Strawn-Wing High School—teaching Home Economics, Health and P.E. She retired from teaching in 1985, but continued to substitute until 2010.
She was a member of the Forrest Woman’s Club, the Forrest Legion Auxiliary, the Forrest United Methodist Women and lifelong member of the Methodist Church; where she was a Sunday School Teacher for more than 50 years.
She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Ruth’s spirit and caring nature was an inspiration to all whom she knew or came in contact with. She was dearly loved by her family and will be greatly missed.
The family would like to thank the staff and those friends at Fairview Haven for all the love and support shown to our mother during her stay. Your kindness will never be forgotten.