Ruth Rosemarie Wiedemann Forkum Goad's Obituary
Ruth Rosemarie Wiedemann Forkum Goad, age 96 went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at Golden Lodge Assisted Living in Golden, Colorado.
She was born in Bremen, Germany on February 29,1928, to Henrik and Anna Wiedemann. Ruth was an unassuming Lady with a TRUE SURVIVOR mentality. She was a child of World War II, lived through a European depression, as a child she survived her family home being destroyed, she lost her older Brother (Henrik Wiedemann) during the WWII and even lived in a German Youth Home for a time. She met her husband, John in Germany (d. September 22,1969), married and moved to the United States in 1949. Ruth had three children, SSGT Garry M Forkum (d. December 22, 1968), Wayne Forkum and Pamela Forkum Pickens. Ruth lost her oldest son Garry (Viet Nam) and her husband John in the span of one year and yet she never skipped a beat knowing that she had two remaining children to raise. Throughout her lifetime she dealt with many peaks and valleys but always picked up the pieces and moved on. Her quiet demeanor taught her children and loved ones: Stability, Love and Resilience.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Henrik and Anna Wiedemann (Bremen, Germany), Brother, Henrik Wiedemann JR (Bremen, Germany), Sister, Marli and (Herbert Schultze SR. (Berlin, Germany), Herbert Schultze JR (Berlin, Germany). Her American Family included her husband, John O Forkum, Douglas D Forkum Sutton, Carl L Sutton and her Second Husband Don Goad.
Surviving are her Children, Wayne Forkum (Barbara) (Knoxville, TN) and Pamela Forkum Pickens (Morrison, CO), Grandchildren include Michael Pickens (Ashley) (Golden, CO), Anna Moss (Garrett) (Knoxville, TN), Alica Byram (Daniel) (Knoxville, TN) and many Great Grandchildren. Tanner Pickens, Jack Moss, Willa Moss, Lyla Moss, Ellie Moss, James Byram, John Byram, Emma Byram. In addition, she had nieces and nephews, Roger Sutton, Patrica Mattox (Butch) and a Great Niece Michelle Mattox. In Germany, she is survived by her (Niece) Marli Schultze, (Great Nephew) Jorg Schultz (Marli), (Great Niece) Anke Herzog and (Three Great Nieces), Leona, Karolin and Josephine (JoJo).
Her Celebration of Life will be held at Springhill Funeral Home, 5110 Gallatin Pike S, Nashville, Tennessee 37216. Ruth’s final wishes were to be cremated and to have a Celebration of Life on Saturday, March 8th, 2025, at 12 PM-2 PM. The burial will be directly after the visitation and service at Springhill Cemetery.
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