Ruth Brandt

Ruth Brandt, 89, of St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, November 11, 2017 at Hanson Hospice Center, Stevensville.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:00 A.M. Monday at Oakridge Baptist Church, 766 Oakridge Dr., St. Joseph, with Rev. Scott Reeve officiating. Private burial will take place at Riverview Cemetery.  Friends may visit with the family beginning at 10:00 A.M. Monday at the Church.  Memorials may be made to the Hanson Hospice Center.  Those wishing to sign Ruth’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.    Ruth was born February 18, 1928 in Kopaschuwka, Wolynien, Poland to Emil & Natalie (Kleindienst) Heinrich. She was the second of four children. In 1939 Ruth and her family were displaced from her country of birth as a result of events during and after World War II. In 1945 she again was forced to evacuate because of enemy occupation.  Ruth immigrated to the United States of America in March 1952.  She was the only one of her immediate family to immigrate to the USA.  Ruth met her future husband, Walter, shortly after her arrival in St. Joseph, Michigan and they were married seven months later on October 18, 1952 in St. Joseph.  In the next eight years she gave birth to four daughters.  Ruth was a life-long member of Oakridge Baptist Church.  She loved sewing, gardening, baking and especially loved watching the birds.  She was the happiest when all of her family was together.  Ruth is survived by three daughters-Rosemary (Heinz) Schuett of Pinckney, MI, Alice Brandt of St. Joseph, Evelyn (Greg) Fisher of Benton Harbor; five grandchildren-Amber Schuett, Ryan Schuett, Nick Boff, Zack Boff and Caitlyn Kitron; four great-grandchildren; and one sister Romida in Germany. She was preceded in death by her husband Walter in 2002, her daughter Rita in 2001, her parents, her brother Oswald and her sister Selma in Germany.  Ruth will be greatly missed by her family and friends.