Merle Ruckstuhl (nee Weir) was born in Moyie, BC on July 3, 1922, and went to be with her Lord on December 8th, 2021.
Merle was predeceased by her loving husband, Keith and her eldest daughter, Andrea, son-in-law Robin, as well as all her brothers and sisters; Bill, Cam, Howard, Hugh (Bert), Ken, Esther, Jessie, and Hazel. She is survived by her sister-in-law Elizabeth Weir and daughters Nadine Shaw, Marney (Ron) Qually, Dale (Bill) Nicholson, 4 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and many, many nieces and nephews.
She lived a very rich and full life including attending Normal School (which was then Teacher Training) and starting teaching in a rural school in Millbridge, Ontario where she met Keith when he was home on leave from the Army. They married on her 21st birthday on July 3, 1943. After living in Peterborough when Keith was stationed at Camp Petawawa, Merle and baby Andrea moved back to Trail when Keith was transferred to the base in Vernon. Moving home meant moving in with her mother and sister Hazel together with baby Ken. Then the war was over and pretty soon there were 11 people (5 adults and 6 children – all under 6) living in that 2 bedroom house in Warfield!! Merle and Keith moved to Sunningdale with their 4 daughters in 1949 where they raised their family until moving to Glenmerry in 1968.
As a young person, Merle enjoyed playing softball, bowling, skating and especially walking and swimming. She continued walking and swimming until she had to give both up in recent years. When Curves was open in Trail she had over 800 visits!
Merle was always active in her community starting with the Sunningdale PTA, serving as Chair and then Chair of the PTA Council for Trail. She also taught Kindergarten and Sunday School at East Trail United Church, later becoming superintendent of both, as well as a leader and then Superintendent of the CGIT. In 1962 Merle became the first Chair of the United Church Women at East Trail United Church and also became one of its first female Elders. Merle was one of its delegates to the Kootenay Presbytery and B.C. Conference for many years. (The above picture was taken at her last conference at the age of 91!) Outside of her church activities, Merle was also Chair of the Trail Council of Women and a member of the Hospital Board of Trail (where she wrote the column “Boardroom Banter” for the Trail Daily Times and continued the column for several years. Merle was one of the main driving forces in the Aquatic Centre Society for the new pool and centre which took 10 long years to accomplish! She was involved for many years in an ecumenical life-long learning lunch group with a humanitarian focus. After Keith died in 1978, Merle went to work in the Trail school system dividing her time between 3 schools where she worked in the libraries and tutoring special needs children. She took mandatory retirement at age 65, however, she enjoyed teaching children so much, she felt she could have continued for many more years! During her final years, Merle suffered from memory dementia.
She will be missed by all who knew & loved her. Thank you to the caring staff of Columbia View Lodge for making her residency as comfortable as possible.
As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to Trail United Church or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Memorial service will be held in 2022 due to Covid & travel restrictions. Al Grywacheski of Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services™ has been entrusted with arrangements.
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Merle Mariann Ruckstuhl December 8th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Trail, Province: Colombie britanique