Obituary of Josephine Ellen Reuter Ross

Josephine Ellen Reuter Ross of Lakewood, Washington, age 85, died peacefully on December 16, 2019 surrounded by her family.  She died as she lived – connected to her daughters, finding the sacred and the joyful in the ordinary.  She had a ready smile and a quick wit.  She was a master at creating fun memories with her family through storytelling, singing, camping and just being together.  Jo was a nurse, and she deeply appreciated giving and receiving good care.  She was famous for her cowboy cookies and hearty soup, and often baked and cooked to share with friends, neighbors, or someone who just needed a little extra love.  Her hands were always busy: cooking, sewing, knitting, and weaving.  She enjoyed meals with loved ones, a good game of Mexican Train, and encouraging her grandchildren to be strong and loving.  A few of her favorite things were babies, daisies, hummingbirds, and sailing.   

 

Born December 25, 1933 in Neligh, Nebraska, Josephine was the daughter of Arthur and Elisabeth Reuter.  She received an R.N. from Mercy College of Detroit in 1954, and she completed her Bachelor’s degree from St. Louis University in 1955.  In 1959, she married Edward (Ted) Ross, and they raised four daughters, living in in Michigan, California, Oklahoma, Maryland  and Tacoma, Washington.  After the death of her husband Ted in 1993, she enjoyed many years of travel.  In 2000, she married Donald Berglund. 

 

Josephine is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Mary Webster Miller and Caroline Reuter, and her brother Arthur Reuter.  She is also preceded in death by her husband Ted Ross and her second husband Donald Berglund.   

 

She is survived by her sister Bette Lewis Remington of Omaha, Nebraska, daughters Elisabeth Ross (Ian Taylor), Trinka Ross Hamel (Fred Hamel), Abigail Ross (Bob Rivet), Madeline Ross, and eight grand-children:  Lucas, Tedra, Jacob, Will, Emma, Edward, Alex and Imogen; and many nieces and nephews.

 

A funeral Mass will be held at St. John Bosco Catholic Church at 11:00 AM on December 27^th in Lakewood, Washington.  A graveside service will take place in the spring on Madeline Island, Wisconsin.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Woods Hall Gallery and Studios where she spent many happy hours weaving, (Woodshall.com) OR the Madeline Island Emergency Services ( Checks may be sent to: Town of La Pointe – ESB Fund, PO Box 270 La Pointe, WI 54850).

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