Ruth K. (nee Fritzsch) Roeper

Ruth K. (nee Fritzsch) Roeper, age 89, of Rio Rancho New Mexico passed away on Tuesday, February 22, 2022.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Walter W. Roeper, parents Barbara (nee Hauck) and Erich Paul Fritzsch, brother Erich Fritzsch and sister-in-law Ilse Fritzsch. She was the loving aunt of Martin (Ginny), Susan (Ken, deceased) and Thomas (Sally) Fritzsch; and their families. She also maintained correspondence with her cousin Dieter Queck of Wolfsburg, Germany. Tom and Donna Oberg, Richard and Virginia Bennett of Rio Rancho were her adopted New Mexico family who loved her and provided comfort to Ruth in her final days.

Ruth was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from Custer High School in 1950. After WWII she became an active volunteer with the USO. She was a trained vocalist who enjoyed performing a variety of types of music but especially enjoyed classical music. She enjoyed figure skating and taught others the sport, liked playing cribbage, and loved the history and culture of pharaonic Egypt. 

Ruth married the love of her life, Wally Roeper, in 1960 and spent 31 happy years together before Wally’s death in 1991. They were an outgoing couple who loved people and had many friends. They moved to Rio Rancho in 1980 and quickly formed a community of friends that became her adopted family. After Wally’s death she joined the St. Paul’s United Church of Christ where through the choir she met the Obergs and Bennetts. She was best friends with her sister-in-law Ilse Fritzsch and as “old widows” they went on adventures to Egypt, and Europe.  As a “people person” she volunteered at the Meadlowlark Senior Center, heading the very popular Cribbage Club.  

Ruth will be remembered for the great sense of humor that she inherited from her dad and she always was the life of the party. Her friends and family miss her but she will live on in our hearts and minds. Rest in peace, Auntie Ruth. 

Memorials can be made to the New Mexico BioPark Society.