Ruth Harsch

Ruth M. Oestreich Harsch, 71, of Mansfield died late Sunday evening, January 20, 2002 at MedCentral Mansfield Hospital. Mrs. Harsch was born December 29, 1930 in New Bedford, Ohio to Rev. Henry and Martha Schwartz Oestreich. Her early years were spent in Hanover, Ontario, Canada. She was a 1948 graduate of Fremont High School, attended Capital University, and graduated from Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University in 1953. Ruth worked at University Hospitals in Cleveland as a registered nurse and instructor; the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas; was the Associate Director of the Ohio Nurses Association; Assistant Director of Nursing with Mansfield General Hospital; and was an instructor with NCTC School of Practical Nursing. She was also the Director of Nursing at People's Hospital from 1982-1994; Volunteer Coordinator for the Visiting Nurses Association; Past President of the Good Shepherd Home from 1979-1980; served on the Mansfield Board of Education for eight years, where she also served as President; belonged to the Board of NCO Planned Parenthood, and was Past President of the Mohican District of the Ohio Nurses Association. Ruth was a member of First English Lutheran Church and was Past President of the congregation council.

She is survived by her husband, Eugene Harsch; two sons and daughters-in-law, John & Kim Harsch of Mansfield and Stephen & Dawn Harsch of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; two grandchildren, Jack & Owen Harsch; and brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Charles & Rhoda Oestreich of New Braunfels, Texas. Her parents, Rev. Henry and Martha Oestreich preceded her in death.

Friends may call at the Diamond Street Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, Wednesday, January 23 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral services will be at First English Lutheran Church Thursday at 11:00 a.m. conducted by Revs. Paul Larson and Cloyd E. Kress. Burial will be in the First English Lutheran Church Columnbarium. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made at the funeral home to the New Ministries & Missions Endowment Fund or the Major Capital Improvements Endowment Fund of First English Lutheran Church, 53 Park Avenue West or the Leukemia-Lymphoma Fund.