Sister Ruth Kleitsch, OSF celebrates 70th Jubilee

     Sister Ruth Kleitsch, OSF, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis, of Dubuque, Iowa, celebrated her Diamond Jubilee (70 years) on Sunday, Oct. 24, at Mount St. Francis Center in Dubuque.

     Cascade, Iowa was the birthplace of Sister Ruth (Carlos), one of seven children.  She received her elementary education in a one-room schoolhouse, and graduated from St. Mary High School prior to entering Mount St. Francis.  She taught a variety of grades in Bode, Larchwood, and Waterloo in Iowa and at Corpus Christi, Chicago. One summer she was asked to work at St. Mary’s Home – and stayed there until it closed four years later. 

     She attended St. Louis University and received her master’s degree in social work. She served as a social worker with Catholic Charities in Mason City and Cedar Rapids, spent two years working in Germany with the children of US service men and women, and ministered on the pediatric unit of Loyola University Medical Center for 19 years.  

     Having “retired" to Monticello in 1997, she was soon employed as an assisted living counselor at a group home in Monticello and as a home health aide with Eastern Iowa Visiting Nurses.  Sister Ruth volunteered Monday through Friday at Senior Dining (and at other occasions that arose) and was Eucharistic Minister at Sacred Heart Church and the Nursing Home. 

     Sister Ruth now lives at Clare House at Mount St. Francis Center and is a regular reader and Eucharistic Minister.

     “My Jubilee causes me to stop and realize how blessed I have been the past 70 years.  God has graciously held me in His hand and protected me.  For this I am most grateful,” she said.

     Cards can be sent to Sister Ruth at 3390 Windsor Ave., Dubuque, IA 52001.