Mrs. Wilke was born December 23, 1919, in Buffalo County to Paul and Nora Rhine Muhlbach.
Ruby graduated from Ravenna High School in 1937. As normal training students, Mrs. Wilke and another Ravenna high school student were used as substitute teachers. Of this experience, Mrs. Wilke said, “We couldn’t wait to graduate so we could be included in the profession.”
In the 1930’s there were over 120 rural schools in Buffalo County and more teachers that that looking for jobs, Ruby recalled. She was one of the two from her class hired.
Ruby had a lengthy teaching career. She began as early as third grade when she became teacher helper. “This job,” said Mrs. Wilke, “consisted of taking the first and second graders downstairs to listen to them read, drill them on vocabulary and arithmetic combinations, or help them with phonics and spelling.” This early teaching experience influenced her to go into the teaching profession.
Mrs. Wilke’s first schools was district #23 southwest of Pleasanton where she taught from 1937-1939. The next three years were at district #21 in Buffalo County. After her first child was born, she took “time out” and then filled in for one year at district #68 in the school year 1943-1944. After taking some time at home to raise her four children with her husband, Virgil, on the farm, Ruby returned to her career in 1959 at rural district #106. Five years later she began teaching in the Pleasanton school system, district #R-105 and remained there for eight years until she became employed by the Ravenna public school district #69 for the next seventeen years.
Mrs. Wilke thoroughly enjoyed her career in education and even tutored the Vietnam immigrant, Dr. Van, who came to Ravenna as the local physician. Regarding her decision to retire in 1985, Ruby said, “The mind is willing, the body is not.” Ruby was an avid reader and her love of learning continued in her retirement years.
Ruby was an active member of the community and despite family duties and school responsibilities, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kearney State College after many summer school sessions and night classes.
Mrs. Wilke passed away on January 6, 2005, at the age of 85. Former students remember her fondly and her influence in their lives had a lasting impact. She is buried at Highland Park cemetery in Ravenna.
Ruby graduated from Ravenna High School in 1937. As normal training students, Mrs. Wilke and another Ravenna high school student were used as substitute teachers. Of this experience, Mrs. Wilke said, “We couldn’t wait to graduate so we could be included in the profession.”
In the 1930’s there were over 120 rural schools in Buffalo County and more teachers that that looking for jobs, Ruby recalled. She was one of the two from her class hired.
Ruby had a lengthy teaching career. She began as early as third grade when she became teacher helper. “This job,” said Mrs. Wilke, “consisted of taking the first and second graders downstairs to listen to them read, drill them on vocabulary and arithmetic combinations, or help them with phonics and spelling.” This early teaching experience influenced her to go into the teaching profession.
Mrs. Wilke’s first schools was district #23 southwest of Pleasanton where she taught from 1937-1939. The next three years were at district #21 in Buffalo County. After her first child was born, she took “time out” and then filled in for one year at district #68 in the school year 1943-1944. After taking some time at home to raise her four children with her husband, Virgil, on the farm, Ruby returned to her career in 1959 at rural district #106. Five years later she began teaching in the Pleasanton school system, district #R-105 and remained there for eight years until she became employed by the Ravenna public school district #69 for the next seventeen years.
Mrs. Wilke thoroughly enjoyed her career in education and even tutored the Vietnam immigrant, Dr. Van, who came to Ravenna as the local physician. Regarding her decision to retire in 1985, Ruby said, “The mind is willing, the body is not.” Ruby was an avid reader and her love of learning continued in her retirement years.
Ruby was an active member of the community and despite family duties and school responsibilities, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kearney State College after many summer school sessions and night classes.
Mrs. Wilke passed away on January 6, 2005, at the age of 85. Former students remember her fondly and her influence in their lives had a lasting impact. She is buried at Highland Park cemetery in Ravenna.