Thelma Katherine Ruskowski, 96, of Palm Coast, FL passed away peacefully at her daughter, June's home in Traverse City on Nov. 26, 2016. Thelma had been
lovingly cared for by her daughter, June Gleason and son-in-law, Dennis Gleason for the past 41/2 years.
Thelma was born in Indianapolis, Indiana to Milja and Oscar Wettberg on June 19,1920 and soon thereafter moved to Detroit MI. After attending Wayne State University Thelma worked at the Detroit Ordnance Department where she met her loving husband "Russ." Casimir W. Ruskowski and Thelma were married March 2, 1946. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her sister, Onerva Hamburg. She is survived by her 4 children; Denise (Michael) Gleason, June (Dennis) Gleason, Michele (Stanley) Sidor, and John (Elizabeth Miller) Ruskowski, 5 grandchildren; Michael Dennis Gleason, Mark (Marie) Gleason, Christopher Sidor, Michael Sidor Peter Ruskowski and 4 great-grand children; Aidan Gleason, Emily Gleason, Brennon Gleason and Brooklin Gleason. Also surviving are 2 nieces; Julie Hamburg and Onerva Mitchell as well as her loving sister-in-law, Wanda Grigoleit.
Thelma loved to read, watch the birds in the yard and be with family and friends. Thelma had many wonderful attributes, the most noticeable being her Finnish determination or "sisu". She will be missed by all but her spirit lives on in all the lives she touched.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 11:00 am with visitation beginning at 10:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Old Mission Peninsula. Graveside services will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Russ.
Memorials can be made in Thelma's name to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, 500 Huntsman Way, Salt Lake City, UT.
Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your memories with the family.
The family is being cared for by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.