Full Obituary

     GERALDINE M. RUZIC, age 80, of Eau Claire, formerly of Willard, passed away at the Clairemont Nursing Home, in Eau Claire, on Monday, December 14, 2015.  A memorial service will be held at 3pm on Friday, December 18, 2015 at the Holy Family Church, in Willard, with Rev. Steve Brice officiating.  Visitation will be held at the Holy Family Church, on Friday, from 2pm until time of service.
     Geraldine May Schultz was born on May 28, 1935 in Marshfield, WI, to Max and Eleanor (Beager) Schultz.  She was raised and received her education in Marshfield, graduating from Marshfield High School in 1953.  She was united in marriage to Ivan F. Ruzic on May 14, 1955 in Sacramento, CA.  They lived in the Sacramento area for a short time, where Geraldine worked as a switchboard operator and worked for the California Department of Transportation.  In 1956, they moved to Racine and then moved to Willard, in 1960, and took over the operation of the Ruzic home farm.  Geraldine helped with farm work and raised four children. As the children got a little older, she took a job working part-time at Skogmo's, in Neillsville, and bartended for Jake & Ruth Barr at Barr's Bar, in Greenwood.  They farmed until 1981, at which time, they sold the farm to their son, Mike, and moved to Rock Dam.  She resided at Rock Dam until moving to an assisted living facility, in Thorp, and then later moved to Clairemont Nursing Home in Eau Claire.
     Geraldine was a member and officer of the G.W.R. Snowmobile Club, served as the clerk for the Town of Foster for many years, and was a member of the K.S.K.J. Lodge.
     She had many interests, but especially enjoyed playing cards, sewing, jigsaw puzzles, telling and hearing jokes, plants, music and dancing.
     She will be dearly missed by her children:  Michael Ruzic of Rhinelander,  Ivan (Brenda) Ruzic of Rock Dam,  Colleen (David) Gay of Fall Creek,  Mathew (Diane) Ruzic of Rhinelander;  ten grandchildren:  Phillip (Eliza) Ruzic, Austin Ruzic, Ashley Ruzic, Loren (Rachel) Ruzic, Shawn (Beth) Ruzic, Janine (Joe) Bethea, Riley Ashbeck (Lisa Haenke), Randy Ashbeck, Coy (Kate) Ruzic, Courtney Ruzic (Nate Grambsch);  fifteen great-grandchildren;  four godchildren:  Teri (Joe) Kopfman, Carmen (Francis) Wolf, Sara (Kevin) Kennow, David (Pam) Panacek;  nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
     Geraldine was preceded in death by her parents; one great-granddaughter, Kaylee Ashbeck; and three brothers.