Vivian Irene (Ruleau) Stadtmueller, age 85, passed away peacefully on November 10, 2013.
She was a loving and fun companion to her husband of 64 years, Richard; a wonderful mother to her children: Randy (Sue), Zittau; Rick (Vicky Johnson), Neenah, and Cheryl (Joe) Wiliamson, Neenah; a proud and devoted grandmother to her grandchildren: Beth Stadtmueller (Collin Kieffer), Pasadena, California; Amy Williamson (Kevin Bayley), Madison, and Dan Williamson, Neenah; and a delighted great-grandmother to Clara Irene Kieffer. Vivian was born on April 21, 1928 to Robert and Ruth Ruleau in Menomonee, Michigan. The family moved to Cedar River, Michigan when she was five and she lived there until she graduated from high school and moved to Neenah, Wisconsin to work in 1947. It was at the boarding house she was staying that she met Richard and fell in love. They were married September 24, 1949 and lived in Neenah until 1985 when they fulfilled a life-long dream of building their retirement home on the Chain O’ Lakes in Waupaca. Living near water was always a love of hers. Her childhood was spent on the shores of Green Bay and her adult life, nearly 64 years, at the lake in Waupaca. Time spent there was precious to her whether it was swimming, skiing and boating in the summer or cross-country skiing and skating in the winter. She passed her love of water on to her children and especially to her grandchildren. Her family will forever cherish the good times they had together at the lake – family dinners in the screened porch, pontoon boat rides to Scoopers for ice cream, swimming, campfires, Christmas in Waupaca and many, many more.
Vivian was much loved by her sisters: Shirley (Roland) Becker, Betty (Karl) Gilbert, Margie (Charles) Chaltry, and Barb (Jon) Nelson and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Robert and Louis, sisters, Rose, Carol, Luella and Judy. Vivian was an active member of the Parfreyville United Methodist Church and in her community. She will be missed by long – time neighbors, friends and many others she knew throughout her life. She always had a warm smile and kind words for everyone. The family would like to express their thanks to the doctors, especially Dr. Turk, nurses and staff on the fifth floor at Appleton Medical Center and the staff at Cherry Meadows for their care, concern and support for Vivian and her family.
Funeral services for Vivian will be held on Friday, November 15, 2013 at 1:00pm at the Parfreyville United Methodist Church with Rev. Blackburn officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 11 am until the time of service. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund is being established in Vivian’s name. Assisting the family with arrangements is Maple Crest Funeral Home, Waupaca.