Ruthelma Benjamin Wankel-Fricke Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Ruthelma Benjamin Wankel-Fricke, 95, of Petersburg, Illinois passed away on Saturday, February 29, 2020. She was born on March 2, 1924, in Ashland, Illinois, to Dr. Walter Benjamin and Mildred Jones Benjamin. She married Raymond Wankel on June 9, 1946, in Ashland, Illinois. In 2006, she married Norman E. Fricke of Petersburg, Illinois. Ruthelma is survived by her two children, Marilyn Wankel (Tim) of Blandinsville, Illinois and Mark Wankel (Anita) of Pleasant Plains, Illinois. In addition to her children, she is survived by five grandchildren, Josh Taylor of Perkins,Oklahoma, Megan Taylor-Krueger of Minnetonka, Minneapolis, Les Wankel of Petersburg, Illinois, Tim Wankel of Tallula, Illinois and Kyle Wankel, of Petersburg. Eight great grandchildren, Emma and Colton Wankel, Maggie Wankel, Hayes and Auggie Wankel, Sam Taylor and Max, Will, and Camden Krueger. Three step-children, Mike (Jeanne) Fricke, Jeff (Karen Fricke) and Kathy (Ron) Ruppel, all of Petersburg, Illinois plus their seven grandchildren. Her husband Raymond Wankel, her parents, and her three brothers preceded her death. Ruthelma was a teacher in the PORTA School District for 38 years and an instructor for Lincoln Land College. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Illinois State Normal University and her Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois at Springfield. She received the Golden Apple Award, Those Who Excell Award from the Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois State Alumni Association 2005 Alumni Queen, inducted into the PORTA Hall of Fame as a charter member in 2011, and most recently in 2018 was the Petersburg Citizen of the Year. She served as a volunteer, officer, or President of many school, community, and church activities, as well as a volunteer at New Salem State Park. She was a member of the Tallula Christian Church, where she served as Chairman of the Board, as well as an elder. In addition to church activities, she served in leadership roles for the Tallula Women’s Club, Petersburg Women’s Club, Shambolee Ladies’ Golf Association, Menard County Fair, Menard County University Women, Delta Kappa Gamma, New Salem Questers, and Half-Century Club of Illinois State University. She was a member of the Illinois Education Association, the National Education Association, Illinois English Teachers’ Association, Land of Lincoln and Illinois Retired Teachers’ Associations, and National Council of Teachers’ of English. Funeral Services will be held at the Tallula Christian Church at 2 pm on Saturday, March 7, 2020, with Pastor Jeffrey Gross officiating. Burial will immediately follow the service at Greenwood Cemetery in Tallula. The family will meet friends at 5 pm for a Celebration of Life at Wankel’s In Petersburg following the services at 18239 Kelly Rd. Petersburg, IL 62675. Memorial Contributions can be made to the Menard County Fair Association and to the Petersburg Rural Fire district.

Ruthelma Benjamin Wankel-Fricke

March 2, 1924 - February 29, 2020