Carmen Jean Ruesch

1945-2022

Carmen Jean (Waldhart) Ruesch, 77, of Medford, passed away on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at her home surrounded by her family. Cremation has been performed and no funeral service will be held. Carmen was born on June 9, 1945, to the late Hollis and Anita Waldhart (Strankman) in Medford. She graduated from Medford High School. After marriage, she stayed home with her children until they were in school. She worked at Passehl’s Drug Store, at Landwehr Mobile Homes as a secretary, and had an in-home daycare until she retired. Carmen had a loving heart for children and her pets.

Carmen was united in marriage to the late Barton Vircks in September 1963, and together they had 3 children. They divorced, and she was later united in marriage to her surviving husband Tim Ruesch on Sept. 7, 1985.

Carmen is survived by her husband of 36 years, Tim; three children, Lisa Pongratz of Granton, Lincoln (Melissa) Vircks of Freedom, and Lenise (fiancée Richard Cardin) Vircks of Marathon; Carmen’s stepdaughter, Jayme Malzahn and family, Colby. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Nicolas (fiancée Amber) Nelson, Ricky (Kylie) Pongratz, Rachel (Charlie) Hayes, Andrew (special friend: Bailey) Vircks, MJ (Brittany) Zenner, Alex (Katie) Zenner, Ben (special friend: Emma) Zenner, and Tessa Fawley; seven great-grandchildren; her brother Ron (Lois) Waldhart of Medford; two sisters, Mary Patterson of Omaha, Neb. and Carol (Bryan) Paur of Menomonie, and their families; and her aunt Velma Dietze of Medford. Carmen is further survived by her mother- in-law, Lenore Ruesch of Medford, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; Sharon (Pat) Burns of Madison, Connie (Don) Kubac, Louisville, Ky., Mike (Genece) of Corona, Calif., Pat (Deb) of Wausau, Penny (Dan) Engh of Viroqua, Debby (Bill) LaBerge of Verona, John (Laura) of Dayton, Minn., Val (Tim) Leath of Garden Grove, Calif., Kelvin (Shirley) of Eau Claire, Amy (Doug) Christophersen of Wausau, Ben (Bill) Kraemer of Medford, Jason of South Riding, Va., Gabe (Janice) of Tucson, Ariz., Lisa (Chris) Laursen of Mondovi.

Carmen was preceded in death by her parents; her son-in-law, Rich Pongratz; and her father-in-law, Leroy Ruesch.

Cremation services of Schofield, WI is assisting the family.

Paid Obituary 124529