Carmen Jean (Waldhart) Ruesch

Carmen Jean (Waldhart) Ruesch, 77, of Medford, passed away on Thursday, July  21, 2022, at her home surrounded by her family.

Cremation has been performed and no funeral service will be held.

Carmen was born on June 9, 1945, to the late Hollis and Anita Waldhart (Strankman) in Medford, WI. She graduated from Medford High School.

After marriage, she stayed home with her children until they were in school. She worked at Passhel’s Drug Store, at Landwehr Mobile Homes as a secretary, and had an in-home daycare until she retired. Carmen had a loving heart for children and her pets.

Carmen was united in marriage to the late Barton Vircks in September 1963, and together they had 3 children. They divorced, and she was later united in marriage to her surviving husband Tim Ruesch on September 7, 1985.

Carmen is survived by her husband of 36 years, Tim; 3 children: Lisa Pongratz of Granton, WI, Lincoln (Melissa) Vircks of Freedom, WI, and Lenise (Fiancée Richard Cardin) Vircks of Marathon, WI. Carmen’s stepdaughter, Jayme Malzahn and family, Colby, WI. She is survived by her grandchildren; Nicolas (Fiancée Amber) Nelson, Ricky (Kylie) Pongratz, Rachel (Charlie) Hayes, Andrew (special friend: Bailey) Vircks, MJ (Brittany) Zenner, Alex (Katie) Zenner, Ben (special friend: Emma) Zenner, and Tessa Fawley; and 7 great-grandchildren. Her brother Ron (Lois) Waldhart of Medford, WI, and 2 sisters Mary Patterson of Omaha, NE and Carol (Bryan) Paur of Menomonie, WI, and their families. Her Aunt Velma Dietze of Medford, WI.

Carmen is further survived by her mother-in-law Lenore Ruesch of Medford, WI, brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws; Sharon (Pat) Burns of Madison, Connie (Don) Kubac, Louisville, KY, Mike (Genece) of Corona, CA, Pat (Deb) of Wausau, Penny (Dan) Engh of Viroqua, Debby (Bill) LaBerge of Verona, John (Laura) of Dayton, MN, Val (Tim) Leath of Garden Grove, CA, Kelvin (Shirley) of Eau Claire, Amy (Doug) Christophersen of Wausau, Ben (Bill) Kraemer of Medford, Jason of South Riding, VA, Gabe (Janice) of Tucson, AZ, Lisa (Chris) Laursen of Mondovi. Carmen was proceeded in death by her parents, her son-in-law Rich Pongratz, and her father-in-law Leroy Ruesch.

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