Ruth Zerwekh

Ruth Brandstetter Zerwekh passed away peacefully in her sleep Sunday Morning, October 7th, 2012 at her residence in Aurora, Colorado. Ruth was born to Albert and Edna Brandstetter on June 17, 1920 in Kansas City, Kansas. She moved to Dayton, Ohio in 1922, to La Crosse, Kansas in 1924 where she attended Grade School, and to Muscatine, Iowa in 1936 where she attended high school and met her future husband, Al Zerwekh. From 1938 to 1942, she and Al attended York College in York, Nebraska, where she earned her BS in Biology. On June 3rd, 1942, she graduated in the morning and married Al that afternoon in the York College Chapel. The ceremony was officiated by four ministers, including her father (an EUB minister) and a York College Dean. Ruth lived in Iowa City, Iowa for the next two years and moved to Silver City, New Mexico in 1944 to stay with her Uncle Bill when Al joined the Navy and was on active duty in the South Pacific. In 1946 she moved to the then-secret city of Los Alamos, New Mexico, returned to York for three years, and then back to Los Alamos in 1951. Ruth lived in Los Alamos for nearly the next half century where she and Al raised their family of seven children and were active members of the First United Methodist Church. During this time, Ruth made continuous contributions to the youth, needy and elderly in her community as well as caring for her parents. In 1998, she and Al moved to Poncha Springs, Colorado where they again spent their time giving of themselves as active members of the Salida United Methodist Church, delivering Meals on Wheels and volunteering at the local senior center. In 2007, Ruth and Al moved to Aurora, Colorado to be near family and yet again form a close group of friends at Parker United Methodist Church. To her final days, Ruth brought Joy to everyone in her midst with her with perpetual cheerfulness and sense of humor. Ruth is survived by her husband, Al Zerwekh of Aurora, CO, brother Marvin Brandstetter of Alcalde, NM, and six children: Bill Zerwekh of Kalispel, MT, Terry Templeman of Parker, CO, Bobbie Voss of Edmond, OK, Don Zerwekh of Albuquerque, NM, Sam Zerwekh of Shawsville, VA, and John Zerwekh of Parker, CO. She is also survived by sixteen grandchildren and ten great- grandchildren. Ruth was preceded in death by her brother Frankie Brandstetter, son Mike Zerwekh and grandson David Zerwekh. A memorial service will be held for Ruth at 1:30 PM, October 14th, 2012 in the Community Room at the Beth Israel Nursing Home at Shalom Park, 14800 E. Belleview Dr., Aurora, CO 80015. Ruth's ashes will be laid to rest at Ft. Logan National Cemetery at a later date. In Liu of flowers, contributions can be made in Ruth's name to Heifer International (www.heifer.org). Service Information