Ruth L. Williams

Ruth Drew Williams passed away peacefully on September 29, 2025 at the beautiful age of 102.

She was born on February 1, 1923 to Mary (Olmsted) and Roy Drew in Antigo, WI. Following her mother’s death in childbirth, at a young age she and her older brother John and sister Blanche moved to the family farm. In 1932, Ruth found herself moving again, this time to Racine to live with her beloved Aunt Pearl where she remained through high school and WWII.

An avid reader, she studied library science, earning an associate degree at the University of Wisconsin extension in Racine. During these years she entered into long and lasting friendships with her Beta Sigma Phi sorority sisters. She served as senior library assistant for several years until 1968 when she married Wayne Williams and took on the challenge of raising two adolescent girls. Ruth was active in the Congregational Church in Racine and later the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Waukesha. Not very musical herself, she enjoyed Wayne’s jazz, traveling to local gigs and then venturing to jazz clinics and cruises.

Ruth and Wayne began traveling in earnest after the girls graduated to exotic locations including the Galapagos and South America, sailing around Cape Horn. They ventured to Egypt and Kenya and Tanzania on safari. Travel included many trips to Europe, Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, Turkey and Greece, Canada and the Panama Canal. As the pair aged, they preferred taking cruises. Ruth lost the love of her life in 2016 but remained active with her friends.

By 2020, Ruth slowed down enough to necessitate assisted living. She found her niche at Drumlin Reserve in Cottage Grove where she made many friends- both residents and staff. She absolutely fell in love with her great grandchildren, her legacy teaching them the Itsy Bitsy Spider. Her featured photo was taken at Drumlin’s Kentucky Derby Party in May 2025. Like her favorite bird, the hummingbird, she reminds us to let your spirit be bright, your heart be strong and your resilience unshakable.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, husband Wayne, brother John Drew, sister Blanche Jeanquart and son-in-law Robert (Joan) Ray. She is survived by daughters Joan Ray and Gail (Fred) Jahnke, grandchildren Adam (Heidi) Jahnke, Aaron (Annie) Jahnke, Anne Marie (Michael) Droessler, and cherished great grandchildren Nora Jahnke, Charlotte Droessler, Wolfgang Jahnke and Vivienne Jahnke.

The family would like to thank the dedicated staff from Agrace Hospice and Drumlin Reserve for their tireless and loving support throughout her transition. We are forever grateful for your care.

Her funeral will be held on Friday, October 10, 2025 at 11:00 AM, following 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM visitation, at Krause Funeral Home, 21600 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin. Luncheon to follow the funeral at Thunder Bay Grille, N14 W24130 Tower Place,  Pewaukee, Wisconsin.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to HAWS or the First Congregational Church of Waukesha.