Ruth "Shu" Reich

Ruth M. Reich On September 2, 2015, Ruth "Shu" M. (Maas) Reich of Wausau, at 99-plus years, gracefully stepped away to her heavenly home in the arms of loved ones at home. The beloved eldest daughter of Otto and Marie (Scutkowski) Maas, Ruth was born on February 10, 1916, in Wausau. Prior to grade school her family lived in Jessieville, Michigan. They then moved to Minocqua for many years. She attended elementary and high school in Minocqua. She was the last member of the class of 1933 from Minocqua Lakeland High School, graduating two years early. She truly believed in her class motto of "We finish to begin!" Ruth has been an ongoing seasonal resident of the Northwoods since that time. She was always "ready" for the very next thing in life. The Minocqua Museum was originally built on the Maas property on Chicago Avenue. Ruth moved back to Wausau with her family following her graduation. She worked for a brief time at The Favorite Tearoom and attended Wausau Vocational School. She was a business graduate. She married Wilbur "Wib" F. Reich on October 25, 1947, in Wausau. Ruth then worked in accounting at the Pied Piper Shoe Company and later worked at the North Central Technical Institute in the Instructional Media Lab until retirement. Ruth and Wib had two daughters, Mary E. Bower of Port Angeles, Washington, and Julia A. Barrington, of Wausau. Her lifewas an inspiration to her daughters and others who came into her life. Her friendships spanned all generations and she found the young energizing. Ruth had a positive outlook, was fearless in adversity, and could enjoy a rain and shine day. She was one of the oldest living charter members of St. Anne's Catholic Church. Ruth loved music and dancing. When her daughter Julia and Todd Teeples began to dance in professional competition she was their biggest fan attending dance lessons and competitions for many years, including a Dancesport Championship at the Fountain Bleu in Miami. At 99-plus she still loved to chair dance. She loved to shop, setting her own fashion and styles. She enjoyed reading, a student of theology and philosophy; writing poetry; cooking and eating good food; going to the beach and fishing in the Northwood s; and walking (down the road, up the beaches, and around city blocks with her "Cadillac" walker). For many years she had a dog at her side. She liked to play cards and wasn't afraid of a little risk. Ruth was an adventurer in all aspects of life and a lover of nature. Ruth was a story teller and loved to recount her life's experiences. She enjoyed being up at the little lake house in Arbor Vitae and taking a ride. She knew how to find "Mother Lodes" of firewood in the Pacific Northwest when visiting her daughter Mary and her husband Michael. She was creative and loved to sew. She was a fabric artist setting her own styles and designs. Ruth was open minded, a visionary. She loved being with her family and meeting new people all her life. She was preceded in death by her parents Otto and Marie, her husband Wilbur, her younger sister Alyce Nowitzke. She is survived by her brother Raymond Maas of Ringle and daughters Mary and Julia. She was in the Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services program. The family asks that any memorials be sent to Julia Barrington for the support of Ruth's interest s. Her funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 8, at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau. Visitation begins at 11:30 a.m. with a funeral at 12 noon. Interment will follow immediately at Restlawn Memorial Park. A light lunch will follow back at the funeral home. Remember Ruth would encourage you to believe "The best is yet to come!"