Ruth Caroline Knaack Lehner stepped into heaven on Friday, October 16, 2009 at the Markesan Resident Home at the age of 97 years. She was born in Portage, WI on February 18, 1912 to Gustav and Clara Knaack. Later she moved to Princeton with her mother, father, and her sister Norma, where she lived the rest of her life. Ruth was educated in the Princeton Public School System and graduated at age 16, as valedictorian of her class. She then became employed in the Registrar's Office of Stevens Point Teacher's College and later the Lehner & Lehner Law Office. In 1935, she married Philip Lehner Jr., they had three children; Betsy (William) Tishler of Madison, Sally Eickelmann of Brookfield, Michael (Karen) Lehner of Princeton.

Mrs. Lehner was a member of Ladies Aid, St. John's Lutheran Church, Princeton Women's Club, Historical Society, and the Republican Party, serving on the Executive Committee for Green Lake County. She enjoyed playing bridge, Scrabble, Yahtzee, doing crossword puzzles, reading and bowling.

Survivors include her children; grandchildren, William Tishler, Tracy Cinealis, Robin Chisholm, Heidi Goold, Micah Lehner, Nathan Lehner, and Andrew Lehner; great grandchildren, Ethan, Ava and Emma Cinealis, James and Mary Elizabeth Tishler, Gavin and Tara Goold, Vera and Simone Lehner, Sadie Lehner; other relatives and friends. Mrs. Lehner was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, her husband of 32 years, and her son-in-law, William Eickelmann.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Monday, October 19, 2009 at the Wachholz and Sons Funeral Home in Princeton. The funeral service will be on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 11:30 a.m., with visitation one hour prior to the service, at St. John's Lutheran Church where she was a life-long member. Interment will follow at Memory Hill Cemetery in Princeton. Suggested memorials may be designated to St. John's Lutheran Church and Heartland Hospice.

Wachholz and Sons

Funeral Home

in Princeton

Serving the Family

(920) 295-6631

www.wachholzandsons.com