June Ruth DeMaster

June was born June 1, 1920 in Sheboygan to Leslie and Bessy (Hansen) Laing. She was a graduate of Central High School, Class of 1939.

Prior to her marriage she was employed as a stewardess for Northwest Orient Airlines.

On September 17, 1949 June was united in marriage to Joseph A. DeMaster at First Methodist Church. Joe, a longtime employee of Wisconsin Bell, preceded her in death on May 23, 2007.

June was a faithful member of St. Luke United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. Over the years she also helped to organize her high school class reunions with fellow classmates. She was also a member of the “Ding-A-Lings”, a group of telephone company wives. She was a tremendous homemaker and a fabulous cook, known for her molasses cookies and homemade tea rings that she graciously gave away. In this age of text messages, e-mails, and Facebook posts, June excelled in the lost art of letter writing. She regularly corresponded with family and friends around the country, including Ric, a pen pal in Holland, with whom she had corresponded for almost 80 years.

She is survived by a son, Michael (Terri) DeMaster of Sheboygan; a daughter-in-law, Kay Barry DeMaster of Oklahoma City, OK; a granddaughter, Kristin (Artie) Edwards of Stillwater, OK; a step-grandson, Brian Barry of Oklahoma City, OK; her brother-in-law, Robert Leverenz of Sheboygan; her sister-in-law, Elna DeMaster of MacGregor, MN; the daughter of her heart, Susan Patterson-Sumwalt and her husband, Robert and their children, Nelson, Marshall, and Parker of Mequon, WI; nieces, nephews, and countless friends.

In addition to her husband, Joe, June was preceded in death by her son, Peter DeMaster, killed in the Oklahoma City bombing; sisters, Margaret Leverenz and Virginia Toutenhoofd; brothers-in-law, William Toutenhoofd, William Graves, Marinus DeMaster, and John DeMaster; and sisters-in-law, E. Katherine Graves and Patricia Wells.

A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February

18, 2012 at St. Luke United Methodist Church. Rev. Dr. Susan Patterson-Sumwalt, Pastor of United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay, WI, will officiate. A time of visitation and support will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in her name for Church of the Air at St. Luke United Methodist Church.

Special thanks to Dr. Jeffrey Lynds and his nurses, Lana and Karen, for their exceptionally compassionate care of June.

Ballhorn Chapels is assisting the family with arrangements.

June will always be remembered for her unselfish gift of herself to others.