Tuesday, August 23, 2011


NORMAL — Ruth Brenneman, 85, of Normal died at 6:42 p.m. Friday (Aug. 19, 2011) at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal.
Miss Brenneman was born Feb. 20, 1926, in Minier, a daughter of Samual Graff and Emma Johanna Weihmeir Brenneman.
She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Arthur, Lawrence and Ralph.
There will be no visitation. Cremation rites will be accorded with burial at a later date at Minier Cemetery, Minier. Beck Memorial Home, Bloomington, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to St. John’s United Church of Christ, Minier; the Community Cancer Center, Normal; or a charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be sent towww.beckmemorial.com.
Survivors include five nieces and one nephew, Sandra Oldendorf, Valle Crucis N.C.; Nancy (Claude) Day, Hartsburg, Mo.; Marcia (Ronald) Mool, El Paso; Barry (Teresa) Brenneman, Normal; Barbara (William) Henning, Burns Harbor, Ind.; and Kathy Brenneman, Washington, D.C. Also surviving are great-nieces and -nephews and great-great-nieces and -nephews.
She graduated from Minier High School in 1943, then graduated in 1947 from Illinois State Normal University with a B.S. in ED and from the University of Illinois in 1956 with a MinED. She also did graduate work at the University of Colorado and the University of Wyoming.
She taught for 19 years in the high schools of Georgetown, Chatsworth, Clinton and Normal Community prior to becoming administrative assistant to the principal at Chiddix Junior High School from 1966 until she retired in 1982.
Miss Brenneman held membership in the Unit 5 Education Association; Illinois Education Association, life member and president of Central Division; National Education Association; McLean County Retired Teachers Association; and Illinois Retired Teachers Association, life member.
She was a charter member of Zonta Club of Bloomington-Normal; 50-year-plus member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Beta Iota Chapter, of which she was president and state officer. She also was a member of the BroMenn Service Auxiliary and the McLean County Museum of History.
She received the following honors: Leadership Award from Illinois Hospital Associations Council on Volunteers, recognized in Leaders of American Secondary Education and Parent Teacher Assocation Honorary Life Membership.
She served for many years as a volunteer at Mennonite Hospital and was president of the Auxiliary. She was also a volunteer for the Community Cancer Center, McLean County Museum of History and through the RSVP program.

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