Obituary of Marion Ruth Winter

Marion Ruth (Head) Winter, affectionately known as Pookie, passed away on Friday, October 31, 2025. She was surrounded in love by her husband, sister, daughter, and sons as she left this life and went into the arms of Jesus. 

Ruthy was born on May 15, 1960 to Dean Head and Jacqueline (Adams) Head when her family lived in Perkins, Michigan. She grew up on the shores of Big Bay de Noc in Garden Corners,  working in the family restaurant and making memories with her siblings, like their late-night dips in the lake. 

After she graduated from Big Bay de Noc High School in 1978, Ruth chose to pursue a college degree and made her way to South Carolina. At university, she earned a degree in education, made dear friends, and met her sweetheart turned husband, Eric. Ruth and Eric married on June 12, 1982. As a newlywed, she taught in a private Christian school. A few years later, she and Eric took their toddler daughter and moved to Peterborough, Ontario, to plant a church close to where Eric grew up.  She lived there for five years, which is where she welcomed her two sons, before moving to Saginaw, Michigan — the place she would call home for the rest of her life. 

Ruth enjoyed nature watching. She diligently followed the weather and watched for bald eagles. She loved eating dinner on the back deck watching the sunset. Every August, she would return to the Upper Peninsula where she was raised, to watch the Perseids meteor shower. On those trips, she would stargaze with her siblings and husband, and always hoped to see the Northern Lights, which were by far her favorite celestial delight. 

Ruth loved playing word and puzzle games with her sisters and friends, and she was good at it too. She talked with her friends often, sharing online memes, attending birthday lunches, and going on lake trips each summer. She kept up with old friends through social media and made new friends often. She deeply cared for and prayed for every one of them. She sang alto in the church choir, faithfully attended each service, and often showed up with brownies to a church potluck. She was a great example of kindness and patience. Everyone who knew her loved her. 

For over 40 years, she taught in various capacities. Whether it was explaining high school math, helping her students in China learn English, or tutoring privately, she loved helping people learn a new concept or find joy in learning itself. But more than she loved teaching, she loved her students and kept in touch with many of them through the years. 

Ruth loved her family quietly and fiercely. She would sit with her kids in the den and talk for hours about everything  — life, theology, work, family, trials, and joys. When she would stay up too late talking, she would get laughing so hard she couldn’t stop, which made everyone else laugh too. Ruth loved being with her sweetheart, sitting by the fire talking, getting an ice cream, or watching their nightly TV shows. 

More than anything, she adored her grandsons. She loved spending time with them building LEGOs, reading books or a bedtime Bible story, FaceTiming, or having weekend visits. They were her favorite phone background and her favorite topic of conversation.  

Ruth was diagnosed with cancer in 2024, a disease that spread through her body quickly and ended her life too soon. She lived through this challenge in the same quiet and gentle way she lived every day. She was brave, gracious, and joyful until the very end. She found strength and hope in her faith in Jesus Christ, to forgive her sins and to receive her into glory. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Dean and Jacqueline Head; her in-laws John and Doreen Winter; brothers Stephen Head and Mark Head; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ian and Joanne Winter. 

She is survived by her devoted husband of 43 years, Eric; her three children, Beth, Andrew (SJ), and David (Alison); her two cherished grandsons, Arlo and Donny, and a grandbaby on the way. She also leaves behind her dear sisters, Cathy (Dan) Vanenkevort and Jean Head; brothers, Phil (Fran) Head and Tim Head; her siblings-in-law, Michael (Suzanne) Winter, Sheila (Ken) MacDonald, Kathleen Head, and Pam Head; along with Audrey Mulder, many treasured nieces, nephews, & cousins, special friends, and her beloved church family.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Community Baptist Church, 8331 Gratiot Road, Shields Michigan.  The family will greet friends and share memories at the church  on Friday, November 7, 2025 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and prior to the service on Saturday, November 8, 2025 from  9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.

Ruth will be laid to rest at New Garden Cemetery near Garden Corners, Michigan, in August 2026. Her family will gather for a private interment during a trip to the Upper Peninsula to watch the Perseids meteor shower and look for Northern Lights, just as she always loved to do. 

Those wishing to make a gesture of sympathy are asked to consider memorial contributions to Ronald McDonald House Charities, a place close to Ruth’s heart.   To sign online guestbook visit, www.cremationsocietymidmi.com  Arrangements made with the Cremation Society of Mid Michigan.