Ruth Virginia Staffeld

Ruth was born at home in Detroit, Michigan on July 18, 1922, the daughter of Theodore R Deinzer and D. Margaret (Jensen) Deinzer. In her teen years, Ruth lived through the Great Depression. In her twenties, she worked during the Second World War. She was united in marriage to Edward F. Staffeld in 1949, gaining not only a husband but three almost grown children. Ruth and Edward went on to expand their family with three additional girls – Kathryn, Margaret, and Vicki. Ruth and Edward traveled to Spain, the Caribbean Islands, and Greece. Edward died in 1978, leaving Ruth a widow at 56. At 57, she started jogging and returned to work as a bookkeeper. In her 60’s she learned to use a computer; retired; became a church secretary and moved to a different city. In her 70’s, she went on an Alaskan cruise and played Lego’s on the floor with her grandkids. In her 80’s, it was a cruise to Hawaii, and a move back to the Auburn Hills area.

Ruth, a life-long Lutheran, was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Rochester, Michigan. Her love of church and belief in the Lord was one of the many things that helped her get through the death of her husband and her own aging. Ruth was recently interviewed by the Detroit Free Press on “making it to 100.” She said, “I have a faith in Jesus that is so strong that no matter what I do, I know he’s there to help me. So I wake up every morning and thank him for that day, and ask Him to be with me each day, and that’s the way I live my life.”

She is survived by step-children Marcella LaReau, Paul (Joan) Staffeld, and children Kathryn (Jerry) Bryan, Margaret Staffeld, and Vicki (Rocco) Pisto. Ruth was preceded in death by step-daughter Marcheta (Dick) Fritz. Ruth’s grandchildren are Richard (Deborah) Fritz, Ronald Fritz, Judy (Dan) Quye, Nancy (Michael) Martinez, Charles (Denise) Staffeld, Laura (Ray) Ingham, Brian Staffeld, Jamie LaReau, Lesley (Christopher) Bradley, Jerry (Tracy) Bryan Jr., Jonathan (Jenny) Bryan, Philip Pisto, and Virginia Pisto. Ruth is survived by 9 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and her husband, Ruth was preceded in death by her brother Gerald Deinzer, who died in 2007. Her sister, Alice Wochaski (91) lives in South Lyon, Michigan.

Ruth is in the care of Pixley Funeral Home, 322 W. University Drive, Rochester, Michigan 48307. A visitation for Ruth will be held Tuesday, July 9, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; and again on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Funeral Services will follow at Pixley Wednesday, July 10, at 11:00 a.m. Internment will follow at Glen Eden Memorial Park, 35667 Eight Mile Rd., Livonia, Michigan.

Ruth showed life-long support to her favorite charities, Feed the Children, and The Lutheran Hour.