Birth date: Jan 19, 1943 Death date: Apr 14, 2025
Celebrating the Beautiful Life of Ruth Ann Esseltine January 19th, 1943 – April 14th, 2025 We celebrate the vibrant life of Ruth Ann Esseltine, a woman of strength, wit, and a wonderful sense of humor, who passed away on April 1 Read Obituary
Posting on behalf of my husband, Jesse Holt: I never knew Ruth Ann, but I do know the great man that she raised. I am sorry for your loss, Jon, and offer my condolences to others who had the chance to know and love Ruth Ann. - Jesse Holt (AKA Pat Boone)
Ruth-Ann was a very special and significant part of my childhood as she and my mother were the best of friends in 1970's and 1980's Midland. During our formative years in the 1970's, my sister and I were also close friends with Jeff and Jon. I have many many fond memories of time spent with them, at their house, Halloween trick or treating at their Gary St. residence and coming home with multiple large paper grocery bags FULL of candy, and weekend vacations to nearby parks. She taught both my sister and I to play the piano. She was a very patient, very kind and very sweet Godly woman.
My condolences to Jeff and Jon and all who knew and loved Ruth-Ann.
I will forever have fond memories of Ruth Ann, Ruthie, or Mrs. Boese (as she was known to me at that time.) She was a wonderful next-door neighbor and good friend to my Mom. In addition to being a gathering spot for lots of kids on BMX bikes, Ruth Ann’s home was filled with the sounds of piano that could be heard even out in the street. It was a simpler time and lots of great memories were had on that corner of Gary Street. My condolences to Jeff, Jon, and the family.
I love the video of Ruth Ann playing the piano. Music was at the core of who she was. I can remember when she would call me and say, "What are you doing?" I would go over to her house and we would play music for hours. It was the bond in our relationship. We had many adventures throughout our friendship, Fireworks in Bay City, relaxing in the back yard when they moved to Spring Hill, a tour of Nashville.
I will always treasure the afternoon I spent with her a few years ago when I was in Nashville. We spent the day her playing music and me trying to sing along. What fun we had. She was a great example of a godly woman who used her talents for the Kingdom.
I will miss her greatly
Julie Wiseman, Midland MI
Ruth Ann was a big part of my childhood (or “Jon’s mom” as I probably referred to her). Jeff and Jon lived around the corner, 50 yards from my house, and something cool was always happening at their place. I remember a snow ramp on the roof that led to a snow ramp on the ground that ended in a chain link fence. Was it a good idea? Heck no. Ruth Ann took that and a hundred other examples in stride. She seemed to know that if she was going to raise Jeff and Jon she was going to need to shrug and laugh once in a while. It worked. We all lived. Later, once Don entered her life, I was finally old enough to appreciate her true good nature. She didn’t mind if Jon and I shot .22s off the back porch or tried to launch 10,000 bottle rockets at the same time. I do remember getting some Ruth Ann side eye for accidentally using her lactose free milk on my cereal, but I deserved it. Ruth Ann and Don were solid, good people. Jeff and Jon are solid, good people. What more can anyone ask of a life? Ruth Ann will be missed.
We loved Ruth Ann at TDF (The Donelson Fellowship Church). Ruth Ann was at every event we had for our Young at Heart. She always carried a smile and an encouraging word. Ruth Ann would ask me frequently how my family was and I know she prayed for us daily. Ruth Ann was loved by many and will be missed. It was an honor to serve alongside her.
Philippians 1:6
Peace,
Pastor Matthew S. Dunlap
Mom practicing piano a couple years ago.
She had serious skills till the end.
Practicing piano a couple years ago. Ruthie had serious skills till the end.
Jeff Boese
