Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Hopkins, Ruth Keirse (Mestemaker) 2001
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Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net December 6, 2009, 4:06 pm

Ionia Sentinel, 7 Sep 2001

Ruth Keirse Mestemaker Hopkins, 88, passed away Wed., Sept. 5, 2001.

Ruth was born March 25, 1913 in Ionia, the daughter of Henry and Margaret 
(Keirse) Mestemaker.  She married Nathaniel Hopkins Jan. 1, 1934 and he 
preceded her in death April 16, 2001.

She graduated as the valedictorian of the class of 1931 from Breedsville.  She 
attended Western State and Michigan State Universities earning both her 
Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees and graduating summa cum laude.

She worked as a secretary in Lyons and as a confidential secretary to the 
superintendent of Ford at Willow Run.  She taught at Muir and Portland as a 
teacher consultant for the physically handicapped for the Ionia County 
Independent Office.  She was very active in educational organizations, locally, 
state, regionally and nationally.

She participated and spoke regionally for tenure, teacher-parent conferences 
and handicapped accesses all over the North Central Region of the Classroom 
Teachers.  She was a member of the NEA Committee.

She also was a past president of the Ionia Art Guild, 4-H leader and officer in 
many teacher organizations.

She is survived by her son, Neal (Doris); three brothers, Robert (Marguerite) 
Mestemaker, Wm. (Margarete) Mestemaker and Donald (Barbara) Mestemaker; 
grandchildren, Justin, Emma Rose, Mathew and Jordan; many nieces and nephews; 
Katherine Gilberg, Marcie Gilberg, Joseph Gilberg and her care giver, Judy 
Coffin were especially close.  

Her parents and three brothers preceded her in death.

Funeral services for Ruth Hopkins will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday at Lake 
Funeral Home in Ionia with Rev. Dave Flagel officiating.  Interment in Balcom 
Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on 
Monday.  

Anyone wishing may make a memorial contribution to Hall Fowler Memorial Library 
in Ionia.  Envelopes are available at the funeral home.


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