Rienks, Ruth C.Ruth C. Rienks, 97, formerly of Manitowoc, died Friday, December 30, 2016, at Casa de la Luz Hospice, Tucson, Arizona. She was born on March 19, 1919, in Verona, WI to Earl W. and Clara (Herfel) Cowie. She attended Verona High School and graduated in 1937 as class valedictorian. Following her graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in June 1942, Ruth taught Home Economics in Monroe and Randolph, WI and spent a summer as 4-H Club Agent in Marquette County.On June 29,1944, she married William J. Rienks in Madison and taught in West Salem while Bill was stationed at Camp McCoy. After his discharge, they moved to Manitowoc where Bill started the Agriculture Department at Lincoln High School. Ruth worked as a substitute teacher, taught evening classes for the vocational school, and taught part-time at Woodrow Wilson Junior High. In 1959 she began teaching in Mishicot High School where she was FHA advisor and department head until her retirement in 1980.She was an active member of St. Paul's Methodist Church, serving in many leadership positions in United Methodist Church Women and Church Women United. She was active in Retired Educators of Manitowoc County, Delta Kappa Gamma and Extension Homemakers. In 2005 she moved to Oro Valley, AZ to be near her children.Survivors include a daughter, Linda (Joe) Boelter of Marana, AZ and son Randall (Mary) Rienks of Denton TX; grandchildren Jennifer (Dewi) Sheen, Elizabeth (Jeremy) Wilcox, Karie (Ted) Schenkenberg, Shawn (Candace) Phelan, and Kathleen (Scott) Fuller; and four great-grandsons Killian and Kazimir Phelan, and Seamus and Liam Schenkenberg. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband William Rienks on June 22, 2000, and step-brother William Miller.The family was assisted by Adair Avalon Funeral Home in Oro Valley AZ and Pfeffer Funeral Home, Manitowoc.