She was born at the Matte in Holziken Switzerland on December 17, 1931 to Marie Klaus and Gottfried Hofmann. After high school she attended a trade school to become a seamstress. This proved particularly handy - because of her size she needed to make most of her own clothes. She was also extremely talented in languages and ended up speaking five fluently.
Ruth’s love of cooking is well known, and her collection of spices allowed her to make many exciting and tasty dishes. She is probably best remembered as a near-professional volunteer. Whether helping at church, school, the German Club or volunteering five days a week in a local hospital, she was always looking for ways to help others. She also found time to serve on the board of the local symphony and opera and helped deepen the relationship between the cities of Peoria and Friedrichshafen, Germany.
She was very active and loved the outdoors. Her and Roger spent many years traveling in their Airstream and Volksmarsching across the country.
Ruth is preceded in death by her sisters Lydia, Helen and Klara and a grandson, Zachary Gottfried Martin.
She is survived by her siblings Walter, Verena and Rudolph, husband, Roger Martin, children Steven (Donna) and Kenneth (Beth), grandchildren, Ashley, Lydia, Madeline and Jack, great-grandchildren, Hailey and Kelden.
Please join us for a visitation on Friday, November 11, 2022 from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm at the Davison-Fulton-Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home, 2408 W Willow Knolls Dr, Peoria, IL followed by a private burial.
We will have a celebration of Ruth’s life on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 2:00 pm at the Lindenhoff, 7601 N. Harker Drive, Peoria, IL.
Online condolences may be shared with Ruth's family at www.woolsey-wilton.com.
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