Ruth Marie (nee Sprehe) Wernsman, 84, of Chicago, Illinois, and formerly of Lanesville, Indiana and Centralia, Illinois, asleep in Jesus on March 19, 2015.
Ruth was born on June 12, 1930 in Centralia, Illinois to Benjamin and Olinda (Hussman) Sprehe. She graduated from Carlyle High School. She married Walter Dean Wernsman on July 1, 1950 in Centralia, with whom she was married for 50 years.
She is survived by a son Walter "Jamie" Wernsman and wife Lora of Lebanon, Ohio; a daughter Kristi Heinz and husband Rev. Richard of Chicago, Illinois, one brother, Wayne Sprehe of St. Louis, Missouri; one sister, Marilyn Howell of Mesa, Arizona; three grandchildren, Tori Wernsman, Sam Wernsman, and Ben Heinz; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Dean Wernsman; and a brother, Robert (Bobby) Sprehe of St. Louis, Missouri.
Mrs. Wernsman had been a telephone operator for Illinois Bell, a bookkeeper for Centralia Candy Company, the family business, and a cook for Centralia High School. She was an active member of the Lutheran Church, originally at Trinity Lutheran in Centralia, and later at St. John's Ev. Lutheran in Lanesville, Indiana and St. John's Lutheran in Chicago, Illinois. She was active in many church organizations and Bible studies in these congregations.
Services will be held both in Chicago and Centralia. The first service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. John's Lutheran in Chicago, with the Rev. George F. Borghardt III officiating. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Centralia, with the Rev. Mark Buetow officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park.
Friends may call from 9-11 a.m. at St. John's on Saturday, or from 8-10 a.m. at Trinity on Monday.
Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, 4939 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60641. For more information please call Kolbus-John V. May Funeral Home at 773.774.3232.