Ruth Backs Giere Brown, age 92, of Wapakoneta, died March 26, 2018 at the Gardens of Wapakoneta.

Ruth was born May 30, 1925 in Maria Stein, Ohio, the daughter of Joseph and Agnes (Hueker) Backs. She married Norbert Giere of Coldwater on February 19, 1949, who died February 9, 1985. She later married Francis Brown on June 16, 1989. Francis died March 21, 2017.

Ruth grew up on the family farm near Montezuma, Ohio and graduated from Coldwater High School in 1943. After graduation, she and her sisters moved to Dayton, Ohio to work at Delco as a secretary. This is where she met Norb Giere, an acquaintance from High School, and her future husband, at a church sponsored dance.

They started their family in Dayton, moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa with AVCO New Idea for 20 years, and returned to Coldwater in 1971. She moved to a farm near Botkins, Ohio in 1989 when she married Francis Brown.

Ruth is survived by seven children, Connie and Gary Schmitz (Bryan, Michael and Karen) of Gahanna, Ohio, Paula Giere (Ben, Kate and Sam) of Dublin, Ohio, Tom and Sue (Veith) Giere (Nicole and Adam) of Franklin, Tennessee, John Giere of Columbus, Ohio, Annette and Joe Steiner (Elizabeth, Barb and Jay) of Lebanon, Ohio, Amy and Dennis Smith (Nick, Audrey and Adam) of Carmel, Indiana and Molly Giere of Fort Collins, Colorado. She also has seven step children, Sue and Jim Freisthler of Sidney, Bob and Linda Brown of Wapakoneta, Ed and Nancy Brown of Botkins, Ron and Karen Brown of Wapakoneta, Patty and Rusty Wright, Joe Brown, and Jeff and Jeanne Brown all of Wapakoneta, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Ruth was one of 13 children, and is survived by siblings Margie VanDornVelt of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Delores Sowar of Dayton, Joan and Mark Wenning of St. Henry, Andy and Janet Backs of Hollywood, Florida, Sister Barbara Jean Backs of Salem Heights, Barbara and Tom Monnig of Centerville and Jim and Faith Backs of Jensen Beach, Florida. She is also survived by two in laws in the Giere family, Oliver Giere and Gay Giere, both of Coldwater.

She is preceded in death by her daughters in law Bertha (Heitkamp) Giere and Lorraine (Kremer) Giere, and by siblings Edna Backs, Irene and Elmer Klosterman, Mary Ann and Frank Waters, Charles and Edith Backs, and Joe and Ginny Backs, and in laws Bob VanDornVelt, Jack Sowar, and Bob Gast, and in laws Valeria and Bill Otte, LaMar Giere, Richard Giere, Rita and Joe McDevitt, Ralph Giere, Salome and Carl Peters, Fritz and Betty Giere, Sarah Giere, Ed and Nan Giere and Earl Giere.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday April 4, 2018 at Holy Trinity Church, Coldwater. Burial will follow in St. Elizabeth Cemetery.

Friends may call from 4-7 PM Tuesday and from 9-10 AM Wednesday at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Coldwater.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pompe Disease Research at Duke University. Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.