Ruth Emma Viola (Wepner) Heling went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday evening, March 14, 2026, at the age of 97.

Ruth was born on October 14, 1928, and raised up on a family farm in Manawa, Wisconsin. The youngest of 6 siblings, she attended a one-room schoolhouse for her early years and graduated from Manawa High School. On July 11, 1953, she married Gerald Frank Heling at Zion Lutheran Church in Manawa. The couple was married for 63 happy years. They lived in Shawano, Wisconsin for most of their married life. After Gerald’s death in 2016, Ruth eventually moved to Roanoke, Illinois to live with her daughter Brenda and son-in-law Bruce Scarbeary, where she lived in their church parsonage and became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Ruth’s faith in the LORD Jesus Christ was the most important thing in her life. She loved God and loved people with all her heart and especially enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was kind to all, frugal, and hard-working. Every summer she tended to a big garden, and all the grandchildren looked forward to enjoying the raspberries, cans of pickles and loaves of homemade bread. Her home was never lacking homemade cookies and other treats, as many hours were spent in the kitchen as well as the garden. Ruth was a long-time member of St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano. She enjoyed volunteering for the Orphan Grain Train and the LCFS Thrift store.

Cherishing many happy memories of times spent together are her 3 children: Vicky (Phillip) Ostwald of Glenview, Illinois, Steven (Marilyn) Heling of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, and Brenda (Bruce) Scarbeary of Roanoke, Illinois. Ruth also left 9 grandchildren who will miss her very much: Layne Heling, Matthew Ostwald, Andrew Heling, Anna (fiancé Matt Bostaph) Heling, Bethany Ostwald, Joshua (Liz) Scarbeary, Benjamin (Mikayla) Ostwald, Amber Gruden, and Timothy Scarbeary. As well, Ruth had 3 great-children, Esther Scarbeary, and twins Lilliana and Ezekiel Ostwald. She was preceded in death by all 5 siblings: Victor Wepner, Martin Wepner, Lucinda Hintz, Renota Knaack, and Ervin Wepner.

Funeral services for Ruth will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at St. James Lutheran Church, Shawano. Interment will be at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Shawano. Relatives and friends may call at the church on Saturday morning from 10:00 am until the hour of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. James Lutheran Church and School in Shawano. Swedberg Funeral Home is handling arrangements.