December 11, 2020
Whitewater, WI - Ruth (Sidona) Klemke Kelling, 85, of East Troy, Wisconsin passed away on Friday, December 11th , 2020 at Fairhaven Senior Residence in Whitewater, WI after succumbing to the coronavirus and other complications.
Ruth was born on Wednesday, February 27 th , 1935 to Fred William and Evelyn Louise (Gehl) Klemke at St. Anne's Hospital in Chicago, IL. She spent her early years in Chicago before moving to Johnson Creek, graduating from Johnson Creek High School in 1952. She went on to attend Wisconsin State College at Whitewater and earned a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Business Education, and Mathematics in 1956. In 1958, she married her sweetheart, Frank Ferd Kelling, on Flag Day: Saturday, June 14 th , 1958 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Johnson Creek, WI. She then earned a Master of Science Degree in Business Education in 1960 from UW-Madison. She began her career as a business education and mathematics teacher at East Troy High School, and was recognized as the youngest teacher in Walworth County, WI at the time of her hiring. Occasionally, she also taught typing at the Divine Word Seminary. After her children were born, she stayed home to raise and care for them before later substitute teaching for many years, teaching HeadStart during summer school, and working at the community child care center. At the time of her retirement in February 1994, Ruth was employed by the Village of East Troy, as