Ruth Gronert Donaho

Ruth Gronert Donaho entered eternal rest at 11:30 am on September 22, 2015 at Hospice Serenity House. Ruth was born on October 4, 1933 to William C. and Louise R. Gronert (both deceased). She leaves her husband Melvin of 60 years, her siblings: Kenneth (Sydney), Donald (Jean) and Audrey Williams as well as her son Stephen, her daughter Katherine Wessman and her grandchildren Jennifer and Seth Wessman. Ruth was a lifetime member of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, beginning with attending St. Peters Lutheran Church and School in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

After graduating from Arlington Heights High School, Ruth attended the Walther Memorial Hospital's School of Nursing in Chicago. Having received her certification as a registered nurse, she completed her B.S. in Nursing from the University of Illinois in 1955. She then completed her Masters degree in Nursing from Wayne State University in Detroit. While at the University of Illinois, she met and married her husband of sixty years, Melvin Donaho. In 1965 and 1969 they adopted their two children while they were employed in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1969, Ruth, Mel and family accepted positions at the State University in Plattsburgh, New York where Ruth became an instructor in nursing and served until 1995 when they retired to the PebbleCreek Retirement Community in Goodyear, Arizona.

Ruth was well known for her service in nursing, to her church and to her communities. Ruth was highly active in Life in Christ Lutheran Church where she served on the Altar Guild, with Lutheran Women in Mission, where needed and assisting Mel to write and direct three highly successful religious dramas. In fact, although in great pain, three days before her entering eternal life, she completed all costumes and the stage design for the readers’ theater production, The Book of Job. She was a long time Scouter and served in numerous capacities from Scout Leader Trainer, Camp Bedford Program Director and nurse (9 summers), District Leader and Trainer. She received numerous rewards to include The District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver. As a resident of PebbleCreek, she served in the Expressions Gallery for twenty years, played and taught the Recorder while participating in the Kokopelli Recorder Consort and participating in several other activities such as ceramics, wood carving, and stained glass. Most important, Ruth was a friend to everyone, loved by many in PebbleCreek as well as Life in Christ Lutheran Church. She loved and served her Lord all her life right up to her passing into Eternal Life.

A Memorial Service will be held to honor Ruth at 1:00 pm Saturday October 10, 2015 at Life in Christ Lutheran Church in Peoria. In lieu of flowers, please honor her by contributing to either Hospice Serenity House or to the Life in Christ educational building fund at 14802 N. 75th Avenue, Peoria, AZ 85381. As Job stated: “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Ruth would also agree with Job when he stated: “I know that my Redeemer lives.”