Ruth M. Pastori-Merrill

EAGLE RIVER, Wis. - Ruth M. Pastori-Merrill, 58, of Eagle River, left us on May 27, 2015, after a very painful battle against multiple myeloma cancer complications, including haldol medication overdose deliriums, kidney dialysis and drug-resistant infections. She passed on to a far better place while in the intensive care unit of the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison.

Her husband, Joe, with his sister and brother, along with her siblings, Arlene, Jean, Elaine, and Andy, were near her bedside. She lived 58 years, three days. What a place and circumstance for her last birthday!

Ruth Mary was born May 24, 1957, in LaCroix Hospital in White Pine, Mich. Her parents were Lafayette (born Carney, Mich.) and Lucille (born Bellevue, Iowa) (Hammerand) Merrill of White Pine. Her dad died in 2011 (aged 95) and her mom in 2007 (aged 88).

Ruth is survived by her husband, Joe Pastori (Eagle River). They married Nov. 14, 1990. Her six siblings are living: Helen Catron (St. Peters, Mo.) and Dave Catron (Kennesaw, Ga.); Arlene and Heinz Jakal (Mundelein, Ill.); Jean and Jim Bradour (Clinton, Iowa); Dr. Elaine Merrill and Ravi Velaitham (Dayton, Ohio); Edward Merrill (White Pine); and Andrew Merrill (White Pine). Her aunts Inez (Henry, dead) Kregelka and Vera (Orien, dead) Hammerand; and her uncle James (Gertrude, dead) Merrill are still alive. Aunts and uncles Joan and Phillip Miller, and Leona and Lester Haferbier have died. Numerous relatives are not mentioned. Craig Stinebrink, her previous husband, still lives.

Ruth was a White Pine Warrior cheerleader and Homecoming Queen. She graduated in 1975. She served in the United States 18th Army Band, headquartered at Ft. Devens, Mass., from 1975 to 1978. The band traveled throughout the Eastern U.S. The very sweet sounding but very difficult oboe was her instrument. John Wayne, famous actor, showed his appreciation of one of her solo performances by autographing her sheet music. Ruth was a rebel and not much for Army regulations but, surprisingly, she earned and kept the rank of Specialist 4.

After the Army, she worked for a number of employers, including the Vilas County News-Review. She worked for the U.S. Forest Service from 1984 to 1990, and from 2000 until her passing. She arranged acquisitions and did the purchasing for three stations. For years Ruth volunteered to fight forest fires in the West and South. She wasn't very big, but she was tough as nails. She had to pass the same physical requirements as the big men, including hiking with a weighted backpack for miles. On weekends, she clerked for a local resort.

Ruth loved all animals and saved some from local animal shelters. Joe and Ruth enjoyed caring for their pets. In her last years, she tried to adhere to an anti-cruelty diet. Her hobbies included playing several musical instruments, especially piano, note-writing in a fine hand like her mom's, gardening, downhill and cross country skiing, camping, snorkel diving, trout fishing and watching the Green Bay Packers.

Baptized and confirmed at St. Jude's Catholic Church in White Pine, Ruth requested and received last rites by Father Diego Cuevas just hours before her hope of Heaven.

UWH granted our families an extraordinary wish. They moved Ruth's bed to top floor helicopter landing deck. There for a couple of hours, with some of her favorite music, the blue sky and sun above, and the sailboats on Lake Mendota a quarter of a mile away, Ruth rallied enough to hug Joe and her family. Then her breathing very peaceably slowed and her heart fluttered its last beat. She was with Jesus.

Ruth was a good friend to everyone she met. She will be missed by many, most of all by her husband and best friend, Joe.

They worked out of the same U.S. Forest Service headquarters.

Joe and Ruth's good friend and FS workmate, Christine Brunner, will host a celebration of her life on June 27 at Riverview Park in Eagle River, starting at noon.

Memorials can be sent to the Vilas County Humane Society.

The photo, circa 2013, was provided by her sister. Jean Bradour. She was standing in the Merrill family yard.