Ruth Ann Grathoff Obituary (1933

Ruth Ann Grathoff The memorial service for Ruth Ann Grathoff (nee Blessman) will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, July 24th at Pontiac First Presbyterian Church, followed by interment of ashes at Gridley Cemetery. Calvert-Johnson & Froelich Memorial Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Ruth died on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 in Greifswald, Germany, at the age of 87. Ruth was born on June 27 1933 in Decatur, IL to Alice (nee Harrison) and Ernest F. Blessman. She was a graduate of Pontiac Township High School (Valedictorian 1951), Vanderbilt University (B.A. Summa Cum Laude 1955), and Gottingen University (M.Ed. 1961). In 1961 Ruth married Richard Grathoff at First Presbyterian Church in Pontiac with the reception held at the Pontiac Elks Country Club. Ruth and Richard together had two sons, Georg and Philip, born in 1963 and 1970, respectively. From 1955 to 1962 Ruth worked as an elementary school teacher. After finding out via radio that she had "resigned" from her teaching position due to her first pregnancy, Ruth dedicated herself to raising her sons and supporting her husband in his work as a sociology professor. Richard's work took them to many places, and through the years they lived in Dekalb, New Jersey, Germany, Toronto, and Pontiac (in 1983-1984). Ruth collaborated with Richard and others in a variety of important philanthropic projects around the world. Their most important philanthropic work was in support of the people of Poland during the time of martial law in the 1980s, sending trucks with food and medicine to Poland and also providing scholarships for Polish students to study in Germany. For her service to the people of Poland, Ruth received the Polish Medal of Honor from President Komorowski in 2010. A unique soul, Ruth was very kind, loving, and intellectually curious, and she enjoyed travelling and meeting new people. Ruth deeply cared for all people; she genuinely lived and breathed what it means to "love thy neighbor." She will be greatly missed by her family and her numerous friends. Ruth is survived by her sister Susie Smith (1937 IL Rt. 26, Dixon, IL 61021), her sons, daughters-in-law Melanie and Audrey, and four grandchildren, Esra, Ruben, Benjamin, and Sophie. She was preceded in death by her brother Henry, her parents, and her husband. Memorial donations may be made in Ruth's name to Bread for the World (bread.org).