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Rutledge Ancestry

Carol Genevieve Greer

Carol Genevieve Greer


b. 17 Nov 1937 (St. Paul, Ramsey Co., Minnesota, USA)
d. 24 Dec 2005 (Mankato, Blue Earth Co., Minnesota, USA, Cause: Complications of Alzheimer's Disease)
bur.
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Jerry Eugene Rutledge
m. 21 Dec 1957, Park Avenue Methodist Church, Minneapolis (Divorced)

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General Information
Burial: 30 Dec 2005 - Woodville Cemetery, Waseca, Mn
Carol G. Rutledge died peacefully on Christmas Eve at Hillcrest Health Care Center in Mankato after a 12 year bout with Alzheimer's Disease.

Born Carol Genevieve Greer, November 17, 1937 in St. Paul. Mother: Genevieve Waitman Greer, Father: Robert Joseph Greer, Jr.

Married Jerry Rutledge on December 21, 1957 at Park Avenue Methodist Church in Minneapolis. Survived by three children, Lisa Dianne Campbell (Michael), Fountain Colorado; Thomas Scott Rutledge, Carlsbad, California and Rebecca Anne Stevens (Jeff), Prairie Village, Kansas. Six Grandchildren: Brittany Faith Campbell, Rachel Victoria and Joshua Scott Rutledge, and Christopher Brenden, Sarah Nicole and Madeline Anne Stevens. She is also survived by her sister Julie Gschwind of Laguna Beach, CA. She is predeceased by her parents and all grandparents.

Graduated from Washburn High School, Minneapolis, in 1955. BA in English from the University of Minnesota in 1959, MA in Creative Writing from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 1987. She was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority at Minnesota.

She was a stay-at-home mom – staying at home to raise her children and becoming an active and integral part of their lives was her first priority. But she was also very active in our community.

She served 7 years on the LeSueur-Waseca Library Board in the 1960's and was City Chairperson for one year. She also volunteered at Waseca Memorial Hospital, Waseca Concert Association and the Metropolitan Opera Committee. She was a Minnesota Orchestra Guarantor for many, many years.

Member of Bluejay Band Boosters; President 1982-83. Chaired the Uniform Committee in 1977, also served on the Uniform Committee again in 1981-82. Active in PTA, served as President. Room Mother several times. Served on Chemical Dependency Task Force, also Activities Task Force. Chaperoned two Band trips: to Ottawa, Ontario in 1978 and to Traverse City, Michigan- was in charge of planning and implementing the latter trip in 1981. Served on Board of Directors of Dollars for Scholars 1979-80. Cub Scout Den Mother, Girl Scout Leader -13 years from Brownies through Senior Scouts.

Taught Release Time for 6 years and Sunday School at Faith United Methodist Church. Chaired the Organ Committee in the 1960s. Was active on other FUMC committees, including the Administrative Board.

Taught English as a Second Language for the Laubach Program for a number of years and reading and writing for the Literacy Program through Waseca Community Education 1979-82.. She did oral histories for the Waseca County Historical Society and the Monday Study Club, as well as facilitating several books of oral reminiscences by Lakeshore Inn Residents from 1983 through 1986 called the “Life Writing Program”.

She was in charge of costumes for two productions of the Waseca Players, Inc. in the 1970s – “You Can't Take It With You” (the first production) and “A Christmas Carol” - a production in which her whole family was involved.

Was active in Republican Women, was a state convention delegate; also served as Secretary of the Lakeside Ladie's Auxiliary.

She was a long time member of the Monday Study Club and served two years as Vice President and then as President in 1999-2001.

Her work career, which began as a Secretary in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies while at the University of Minnesota, continued in 1979-80 as a sales and stock clerk at The Bookmark in Cedar Mall, Owatonna.

As a free lance writer, she wrote outstanding feature news stories focused on Waseca County residents and subjects for the Mankato Free Press during 1983-1986. Following that, she wrote a number of feature stories for Editor Tom West at the Waseca County News. She was Public Relations Director and Newsletter Editor for Farmamerica 1986-1987. She was Public Relations Director and Newsletter Editor for Waseca Area Hospice, 1990-1994.

As a free lance writer, she also undertook to author and act as Research Facilitator for the Waseca 88 Committee's history project. The result was “The Streets Are Wider Now, a history of the city of Waseca, Minnesota 1868-1968” - now out of print. She also collaborated with Sandra Rieck to produce the children's interactive book, “Mix and Match Colors with Busy Bear”.

Hobbies included reading, sewing, knitting, bridge, cross-country skiing, golf (she was champion of her flight at Waseca Lakeside Club several times), camping, writing, piano and other music pursuits.

The list of Carol's activities doesn't begin to describe the wonderful influence she had on those around her. Her kindness, thoughtfulness, creativity, patience and quiet strength were a huge inspiration to her children -- from camping, sewing clothes and quilts, sledding, meeting her kids when they got home from school, and just always being there to guide, encourage and love them.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, December 29th at Faith United Methodist Church at 2 PM.

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This short poem from E. E. Cummings was her favorite and it was her request to be read at her funeral and should also be printed in the program.

I thank you God for this most amazing day
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a true blue dream of sky;
and for everything which is natural,
which is infinite,
which is yes.

e.e. Cummings
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