Ruth F. Kirchoefer

Coal Valley, Illinois Ruth F. Kirchoefer, 71, of Coal Valley, asleep in Jesus, died Saturday, June 9, 2001, in Trinity Medical Center, West Campus, Rock Island. Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Coal Valley, with The Reverend Robert E. Hagen officiating. Burial is in Coal Valley Cemetery. Visitation is 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Trimble Funeral Home, Coal Valley. Memorials may be made to the church. The former Ruth Florence Opfer was born February 3, 1930, in St. Louis, the daughter of William and Bertha Opfer. She married Oliver Kirchoefer on April 15, 1950, in St. Louis. He died May 14, 1997. Ruth was co-founder in 1976, with her husband, of Quad City Refractories Co., Coal Valley, and served as secretary-treasurer. She was past owner of Valley Child Care Center in Coal Valley for 28 years. Ruth was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Coal Valley, where she was president of the Mary Martha Guild and a member of the choir and Altar Guild. She was a founding member and treasurer of Robert R. Jones Public Library, Coal Valley, secretary-treasurer of Coal Valley Senior Citizens, a member of Christian Women's Club, and a volunteer at Bicentennial School, Coal Valley. She loved her church work and her family, and enjoyed gardening, biking, swimming, and walking. Ruth is survived by five children, Karen and Damon Taber of Andover, Illinois, Barbara and Brian Burghgrave of Geneseo, Illinois, Robert Kirchoefer and Deb "DJ" Segura of East Moline, Steve and Kathy Kirchoefer of Bowie, Maryland, and Ken and Julie Kirchoefer of Metamora, Illinois; 13 grandchildren, Wade, Mark and Kim Taber, Dane, Blake, and Chase Burghgrave, John Kirchoefer, Dan, Cara, and Ben Kirchoefer, and Neil, Rachel, and Luke Kirchoefer; and a brother and sister-in-law, William "Bill" and Grace Opfer of St. Louis. This memorial may be viewed on-line at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com. END OF OBITUARY