Ruth Baar

It was easy to see by the way in which Ruth Baar lived her life that there was not a selfish bone in her body. She was never one who looked for praise or recognition for her acts of kindness, but she gave out of a genuine heart and spirit of compassion. Ruth was blessed to share more than 50 years with the love of her life with whom she created the family she treasured. Although she was quiet by nature, Ruth truly came out of her shell when her grandchildren were around as she could never get enough of them. She will be remembered for her handmade gifts, her mouth-watering Sunday meals, and her collection of cherished antiques, but it will be her gracious heart and tender ways that will be so dearly missed.

The decade of the 1920s was a vibrant time in the history of our nation as America was going places and prosperity dominated both the business and industrial sectors. It was within this exciting period that national airmail services began, the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was celebrated, and the IBM Corporation was founded. It was on July 8, 1924, that Martin and Theresa (Smith) Westerweel celebrated the birth of their daughter, Ruth. Born at home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Ruth was the middle of three children in her family including her older sister, Marian, and her younger brother, Rod. She was raised in the family home on Walker Avenue near Leonard, and her father worked as a casket maker and later at Wheeler-Van Label Company while her mother was a homemaker. As a young girl, Ruth became an accomplished pianist and organist who began playing the organ during services at Richmond Reformed Church when she was just 16. Ruth attended local schools including Union High School where she was part of the graduating class of 1942.

Life would never be the same for Ruth after making the acquaintance of the young man with whom she would share a lifetime of love. His name was Ray Baar and he was a friend of her brother Rod. The couple soon began dating and just as their relationship was blossoming, Ray went into the Navy and left for California where he was undergoing training for the invasion of Japan. It was during his time of training that the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, leaving the Japanese to surrender on August 15, 1945.

A short time after Ray returned from the military, Ruth married her sweetheart, becoming Mrs. Ray Baar on February 18, 1949, at Richmond Reformed Church. They honeymooned in Florida where Ray learned a rather painful lesson. The newlyweds were left with little money after they lost it to carnival hustlers.

The couple settled into a home that Ray built with the help of family at Parkhurst and Haines. They spent 25 years in that home, raising five children: Linda, Mary, Chuck, Dave, and Amy. Raising their family certainly kept Ruth and Ray busy, but they also poured their heart and soul into running Ray’s business, Fixall Electric Motor Repair beginning in 1950. Ruth worked alongside her husband as she had worked as a bookkeeper since she graduated from high school, gaining nine years of invaluable experience. Getting any kind of business established is never an easy feat, and Ruth worked without drawing a paycheck for many years. Ruth worked there until Ray retired in 1991.

Through the years, Ruth moved around quite a bit. After 25 years in the home that Ray built, they moved to a home on Eighth Street where they remained for about five years. They then briefly moved to Richmond Hill Apartments and then on to Country Club Greens Condominiums before settling into their cottage on Sylvan Lake full time. When Ray’s health required more frequent doctor visits, they also purchased a condo at Falcon Ridge.

There was much to keep Ruth busy since it seemed she was always doing something. She was a wonderful seamstress and made many clothes for Ray and her children. She also enjoyed both sewing and crocheting. Each family member has numerous items in their homes that Ruth made for them over the years. Ruth had a keen eye for interior decorating and her cottage was filled with antiques. Her silver spoon collection at the lake was one of her most treasured items. Ruth’s family loved her cooking and her Sunday dinners of pork roast or grilled chicken were unmatched. She played the organ in area churches, the jail, the church at the cottage, or wherever Ray was playing his saxophone. Although it was Ray who had a love for traveling, Ruth accompanied him on many trips including to Bermuda, Jamaica, Scotland, and the Netherlands. Despite being a bit more introverted by nature, Ruth was a fierce competitor when it came to playing cards, especially Skip-Bo. She loved going out to eat and always took her time, savoring the entire experience. Ruth also continued friendships with several of her co-workers during her days at Widdicomb Furniture when she was a girl.

Later in life, Ruth traveled both over peaks and through valleys along her journey. When her family grew to include grandchildren, she couldn’t have been happier. Ruth adored each one of her grandchildren and spent as much time with them as she could, and she even did some potty training when a couple of her grandchildren were over for the weekend. It was always such an adventure when Gramma took them to the local five and dime store or to the laundromat. Ruth’s grandchildren will forever treasure their memories of playing “shoe store” with Gramma and her shoes. Ruth suffered a stroke in 2000 and was deeply saddened with the death of her beloved Ray in 2002. She then suffered a second stroke in 2004, and moved to Covenant Village in 2006 after breaking her hip.

Ruth Baar lived her life with others in mind each and every day. She knew what it meant to work hard, but her work never got in the way of loving her family. Ruth will be deeply missed by those she leaves behind.

Ruth Baar died on Monday, September 13, 2010. Ruth’s family includes her children, Linda (David) Edema, Mary (Tom) Meyering, Chuck (Anne) Baar, Dave (Kim) Baar and Amy Baar; grandchildren, Rachel (Jason) Lowing, Emily (Matt) Heiden, Samantha (Steve) Bruin, Brad Baar, Adam (Lisa) Baar, Austin Baar, Mae and Jon Baar, Carie Baar and great-grandchildren, Morgan and Maddie Lowing, Jordan, Jackson and Paul Heiden, and two highly anticipated new arrivals; brother, Rod (Noreen) Westerweel; sister- in-law, Nina Zoet; and many nieces and nephews. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Ray in 2002. Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Friday, September 17, 2010 at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes – Alt & Shawmut – Grand Rapids, MI, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr NW. Friends may meet the family at the funeral home on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. and on Friday for one hour prior to the service. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or make a memorial contribution to Hospice of Michigan, 989 Spaulding SE, Ada, 49301 or Covenant Village of the Great Lakes, 2520 Lake Michigan NW, 49504.