Ruth Ann (Zumwalt) Schlesinger, passed away on February 15, 2025, at the age of 77 after a lengthy illness - in the same hospital in which she was born. A Rochester, MI native, she was a graduate of Rochester High School in the class of 1965. After attending Oakland Community College, Ruth worked as a medical assistant for several prominent physicians in Rochester for many years. Her later occupations included custom home building and interior design as well as ownership of Church Street Linens, in Clarkston, MI.
Ruth was an avid artist, working with paint and other media – she absolutely loved having a paintbrush in her hand! Her artwork is treasured today by the family, including many animal and pet works - rabbits seemed to be a special focus within her paintings. Throughout the years, Ruth was very proud to have captured the true essence of her pets Spooky, Holly, Katie and Lucy Vi within her art. In addition to her passion for art, Ruth had a boundless intellectual curiosity, a love of animals, and an ongoing and enduring commitment to her husband El. Over the years, Ruth was a faithful member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Bloomfield Hills, MI; Calvary Lutheran Church in Clarkston, MI and Living Waters Lutheran Church in Scottsdale, AZ.
Ruth is survived by her spouse of 35 years, Elwood (El) Schlesinger; sisters Eva Kroupa, Violet (John) Melstrom, and Mary (Russ) Meloche; son Nicholas Cascaddan; stepchildren Sandra (Curt Putzig) Schlesinger, Randell Schlesinger, and Scot Schlesinger; grandchildren Scot, Bret and Katie Putzig, and Heather, James, Tom, AJ, Tyller and Owen Schlesinger, and many nieces and nephews. Ruth was preceded in death by her sister Marian Richardson, brother-in-law Carl Richardson and parents Mary and Norman Zumwalt.
A memorial service officiated by the Rev. Philip Hemke will be held at Pixley Funeral Home in Rochester, MI on Thursday, February 20, at 11 AM with visitation beginning at 10 AM. Burial at Mount Avon Cemetery will take place followed by a luncheon.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester Hills, MI (www.leaderdog.org), Judson Center (www.judsoncenter.org), or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).
Services for Ruth are in the care of Pixley Funeral Home. It is a great honor and privilege to care for the Schlesinger family at this time.
