Ruthanne Rooks

Ruthanne M. Rooks was a living expression of grace. Her faith had taught her the value of every individual, and it was her nature to delight in the company of others, traits that drew people to her and kept them there. She was the embodiment of James 1:19, a Bible verse that says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” Putting others before herself, she could put people at ease in a moment, offer them words of wisdom if they sought it, and send them off with encouragement and kindness.

The first half of the 1940s was a time of crisis around the world. World War II was going strong and hundreds of thousands of families across the globe were dealing with unprecedented grief and loss. Though as spring follows winter, there were also moments of celebration as new life continued to bloom. On July 2, 1944, one of those moments blossomed as Gustav and Helena (Putt) Appelt welcomed their second baby girl, Ruthanne, into the world. Little Ruth was soon toddling after her older sister Karen, and the two of them became lifelong best of friends.

The Appelts lived in Coopersville, Michigan, an agricultural area of around 1,000 residents at the time, where Gustav worked as a bank vice president and then president. They were regular attenders of Faith Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan that would establish the roots of Ruth’s spiritual understanding. The family enjoyed the Berlin Fair in Marne every summer and the girls loved spending time outside. Ruth described her childhood as straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. She spent countless hours riding bicycles, walking along the creek near their home, and playing in a nearby field, only coming inside when it was time for dinner. The girls learned responsibility caring for their numerous family pets. When Ruth was in high school, she played basketball for the Coopersville Broncos.

Ruth started her college education at Michigan State University, but later she transferred to Kendall College of Art and Design. She lived in the oldest residential district in Grand Rapids, Heritage Hill, and the historic homes provided plenty of inspiration for Ruth’s interior design studies. During the summers, she enjoyed working on Mackinac Island at the Grand Hotel. Ruth graduated from Kendall with the skills and vision she needed to eventually run her own company, but she gained more than just an education at Kendall. It was there that she met Stephen Rooks. They married at Faith Lutheran church and were together for fifty-three years.

Shortly after the wedding, Stephen was drafted into the Navy and they moved to Mystic, Connecticut. Ruth adjusted and made good friends there, but she was pleased when they were able to move back to her old stomping grounds. They moved into a house on Oakwood Street that her grandfather had helped build. That house proved great for the two of them and new son Ryan, but five years later with the arrival of Renee, they moved to Sinclair Street where both of their children were raised. Ryan and Renee were the light of Ruth’s life.

Ruth worked in the interior design department at Steketee’s Department Store for a while, and was later able to start her own successful company, Ruth Rooks Interiors. Ruth kept a tight schedule, only working 9 to 3, so that she gave her children her first priority and attention while they were home before and after school. She took her responsibility as a mom very seriously and was committed to supporting and guiding her children in the areas where she saw strengths and needs. She set an example of hospitality and welcome, regularly having people over for dinner and making her children’s guests feel at home.

Food was Ruth’s love language and she always made sure her family knew how much she adored them. Warm breakfasts on cool mornings, school lunches that other kids envied, and home-cooked suppers at six o’clock were common in their home. Ruth carried on many holiday traditions she had learned from her mother and understood that things like Christmas decorations and special celebrations were about more than fun. She knew the importance of passing on a sense of stability and home. Many of those traditions involved food. Whenever the family gathered, they could count on a thoughtfully prepared meal and an amply stocked table.

When the kids were young, the family enjoyed camping at Cranhill Ranch just east of Big Rapids, Michigan, and they would also spend two weeks each summer camping at Petoskey State Park. As the kids got older, she rented a home in Harbor Springs and the growing family made many wonderful memories there. She also took numerous trips around the United States, taking in the beauty and diversity of the country and all of it’s National Parks.

In later years, Ruth and Stephen moved to a condo. In her 60’s she switched gears from raising her own kids to taking care of both of her aging parents Helen and Gus. Following the passing of both of her parents, Ruth transformed into an extraordinary grandmother. Ruth was delighted to be able to watch Ryan’s children Mica and Acacia regularly while Ryan was attending graduate school, and she made sure that their home was always at the ready for all of the grandkids. Renee then welcomed Merritt and Morgan into the world giving Ruth two more grandchildren. Eventually, she added Preston and Avery to her quiver of grandchildren to love.

She practiced several hobbies such as gardening, baking, cooking, and art. She was a regular volunteer at The Butterworth Guild. She also loved playing cribbage and other card games, mostly because it gave her time to pour into the lives of her family and friends. Ruth had a committed group of friends that met twice weekly at MVP and then went for coffee at Herman Boys in Rockford. During each summer, Ruth made annual pilgrimages to Zoll Street Beach in Harbor Springs and Grand Hotel of Mackinaw Island for the annual Women’s Conference. Closer to home, Ruth loved to walk and sit in downtown Saugatuck, enjoying the boats heading out to Lake Michigan.

From the time Ruth was a child, her faith was an integral part of her life. She attended Central Reformed Church as an adult for many years and consistently sought truth and strove to follow the principles laid out in the Scripture. Ruth walked the walk, and her family and friends knew her as a faithful follower of the Lord.

Ruth experienced growing health challenges during her later years. During her last few months she was well cared for at Holland Home Breton Woods Rehabilitation. Through all of her difficulties, she maintained her example of empathy, perseverance, and faithfulness. She will be missed, but her influence will continue to impact her loved ones and friends for years to come.

Ruthanne died on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. She is survived by her son, Ryan (Rachel) Rooks; her daughter Renee Brennan; grandchildren Mica and Acacia Walter-Rooks, Preston and Avery Lewis, and Merritt and Morgan Brennan; a sister, Karen Horlings; a niece and nephew, Chris (Jill) Larsen and Sarah (Kevin) Wilson; a cousin, Mary Appelt; and many other cousins and friends.

Friends are invited to visit with Ruth’s family on Friday, July 12, 2024, from 4-7 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Van Strien Creston Chapel. A service to remember and celebrate Ruth’s life will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 11 AM at Faith Lutheran Church with additional time to visit with her family an hour before the service.

Because of the excellent care Ruth received, her family suggests memorial donations be given to Holland Home Benevolent Care. To share a favorite memory or photo or to sign her online guestbook, visit www.heritagelifestory.com