Cora M. Rueggenmeier - 1892-1990

RUEGGENMEIER, SAEWERT

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 6/15/2011 at 22:15:46

SOURCE: Waukon, Iowa WAUKON DEMOCRAT, January 11, 1990
Contributor: Connie (Kelly) Ellis (Not related but a former student)

Former Waukon High School teacher, Cora M. Rueggenmeier died Monday, January 8, 1990 at the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon, Iowa. She was 97 years old. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, January 12 at Zion United Church of Christ with the Rev. Henry Heinbuch and the Rev. Ruben Grosshuesch officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery with Martin Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Casket bearers are Dave Flage, Jerry Siegrist, Marvin Strike, Don Angel, James Wooden, and Rupert Cabellero. Honorary pallbearers are Richard Taylor, Dr. John Moriarity, Dr. James Rocheleau, William Owen, Lynn Morrow, Dr. Alden Wiley, Dr. Mike Murrell, and Victor Stamper.

Miss Rueggenmeier was born January 19, 1892 on the family farm in Jefferson Township, Allamakee County, Iowa to Henry and Henrietta (Saewert) Rueggenmeier. She graduated from the Waukon High School in 1909 and received her Bachelor's degree from Upper Iowa College in 1915. Additional education credits were earned throughout her life at other universities. Before beginning her teaching career at the Waukon High School in 1923, she had already spent a total of ten years teaching in other communities. In 1913 she started teaching in Strawberry Point, Iowa, then taught German and English at Upper Iowa College in Fayette, Iowa. During World War I, she taught French at the Shenandoah, Iowa High School because German was dropped during the war. In the Fairfield, Iowa High School she taught biology and history. While at Waukon, in addition to teaching English and German, she had charge of many functions, namely, head of the normal training department for several years, the Future Teachers of America Club, the Usher Club, and the German Club. The Homecoming festivities, as well as Prom plans, were carried out under her chairmanship. Miss Rueggenmeier retired from 42 years of teaching at the Waukon High School in 1965. She continued to substitude teach at the junior and senior high school and at St. Patrick's school for several years after that.

She received the Alumni Achievement Award and the President's Award from Upper Iowa University, a Distinguished Service Award from Allamakee Community School Board, and the Key to the City from Mayor Joe Deeney in 1965. She etablished a scholarship at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa and also furnished a room at the Veterans Memorial Hospital.

As a member of the Zion United Church of Christ, she taught Sunday School for many years and was active in church activities. She was also a member of Wa-Tan-Ye and a charter member of the Allamakee County Historical Society. *

* The obituary did not mention any survivors and did not mention if she had any siblings who had preceded her in death.

Note of the transcriber: My Grandfather was a member of the Class of 1923 and had Miss Rueggenmeier as his English teacher when she started her career at Waukon. My father was in the Waukon Class of 1945 and had Miss Rueggenmeier as his English teacher. When Miss Rueggenmeier retired in 1965, I was a member of the Class of 1965 and she was my German teacher for two years. I thought that was pretty amazing to have taught 3 generations of one family. She was a dedicated teacher to all of her students.

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