- Visitation
Monday, March 11, 2013
9:00 to 11:30 am
Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL
- Service
Monday, March 11, 2013
11:30 am
Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL
- Full Obituary
Ruby M. Essenpreis, (nee Willmann) age 90, originally of Highland, Illinois, died Thursday, March 7, 2013 at Tri Star Southern Hills Hospital in Nashville, Tn surrounded by her family.
She was born on Friday, February 2, 1923, in Highland, Illinois, the daughter of Urban and Dena (nee Strotheide) Willmann. On June 29, 1946 she married Duane W. Essenpreis who passed away on August 7, 2011.
Ruby was born and raised in Highland. She worked for Moulton Bartley Shoe Factory. She and her husband purchased Essenpreis Plumbing and Heating in March, 1951 and later Rayne Soft Water. She worked here as office manager until their business was sold in 1981 to Bob Frey and Bob Fischer. One of her favorite jobs during retirement was working for Laidlaw Bus with the Highland Community District 5 as monitor on a school bus with children with special needs. She won an award as Monitor of the Year for her outstanding service.
Ruby and her late husband were very involved the activities. Ruby initiated into the Order of Eastern Star 524 on September 8, 1953. She served as Worthy Matron in 1957 and received her 50 year membership in September of 2003. She was a member of Al Sihah Temple No. 29 and Evangelical United Church of Christ. She was actively involved with her husband with Ma-Cli-Bo Shrine Circus Unit and the Silver Lake Shrine Club.
Ruby interests involved dancing, bowling, playing cards, working on various crafts, working in her flower gardens, and spending time with her daughters and grandchildren. She loved to cook and bake. She frequently was experimenting with new recipes for her family. She and her husband spent many weekends at the lake or traveling in their motorhome as well as trips abroad.
She is survived by her daughters, Janis A (Jack) Meyer, Nashville, Tn and Pamela S Zagar, Augusta, Ga; her grandchildren, Heather A (Jason) Powell, Nashville, Tn, Gabriel M. (Whitney) Zagar, Lexington, Ky, Aaron D. Zagar, Augusta, Ga; great granddaughter, Sophie M. Powell, Nashville, Tn; step-grandchildren, John (Danielle) Meyer, Redmond, Wa, Allison (Eric) Pratt, Moline, Il, Julie (John) Super, Korea; step-great-granddaughter, Genevieve Meyer, Redmond, Wa; brother, Glenn C “Dick” (Evelyn) Willmann, Highland, Il.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Duane W. Essenpreis; father, Urban Willmann; mother, Dena Willmann; sisters, Sylvia Bloemker, Ruth Nagel (twin); brothers, Orin H. Willmann, Raymond Willmann; Son-in-law, Robert A “Bob” Corum; step-great-granddaughter, Giselle Adoline Meyer.
Visitation will be held from 9:00 to 11:30 am on Monday, March 11, 2013, with the funeral service following at 11:30 am at Meridith Funeral Home in Highland, Illinois. Interment will be at Highland City Cemetery, Highland, Illinois.
Memorials contributions may be made to the Ronald McDonald House of Nashville, Tn at 2144 Fairfax Avenue, Nashville, TN or the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 2001 S. Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, Mo 63131-3597.
Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL
