Donald L. Ruhe

LAKE HALLIE - Donald L. Ruhe, 86, village of Lake Hallie, died April 10, 2017, at his home, surrounded by his family and under the care of St. Joseph's Hospice.

He was born Jan. 4, 1931, in Rice Lake, Wis., the son of George and Zatha (Brown) Ruhe.

He graduated from St. Patrick's High School (Regis) in 1949, and served in the U.S. Navy from 1949 to 1953 on the navy ship Samuel B. Roberts DD823.

Don married Elizabeth (Betty) Bowe Nov. 20, 1954, at St. Charles Catholic Church in Chippewa Falls. He worked at Uniroyal for 37 years, retiring in 1991. Before and after retirement, Don and Betty enjoyed many years of RV travel to Texas. He loved to garden and maintained a large vegetable garden each summer. He also enjoyed his monthly breakfasts with remaining lifelong friends and attended most of the monthly Uniroyal breakfasts. He took great pleasure in watching his granddaughter, Emily, play volleyball and never missed a game.

Don is survived by his wife of 62 years, Betty; one daughter Terry (Jack) Knutson of Lake Hallie; two sons, Rick (Karen) Ruhe of Cypress, Texas and Dennis (Amy) Ruhe of Lake Hallie. Also survived by two sisters, Marge (Ray) Owen of Eau Claire and Georgia (Earl) Hilber of Chippewa Falls; and one brother, Mike (Karin) Ruhe of Chippewa Falls. He is further survived by granddaughter, Emily Ruhe; stepgrandchildren, Darlene Thibeadeau, Jason Knutson, Kelly (Mike) Taylor, Thom (Christine) Crowe, Cassie (Bob) Kraus; and stepgreat-grandchildren, Jonathan Thibeadeau, Kendall Thibeadeau, Tiara Knutson, Jessica Taylor, Nick Taylor, Alyssa Taylor, Kade Boone and Elise Crowe; sisters-in-law, Myrna Chartrand of Lake Hallie and Arlene Rud of Houston Texas, Marcie Bowe and Suzanne Bowe of Chippewa Falls, Gerda Bowe of Virginia; and Delores Bowe, Chetek Wis.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Don is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Lucetta Mayer and her husband Willie; brothers-in-law Clayton, Sylvan, Leon, Robert, Donald, Marvin, Gilmer and Richard Bowe, Butch Chartrand, Danny Pierce; and sisters-in-law, Bernadine Pierce, Joan Bowe and Deloris Bowe; and stepgrandson Chris Knutson.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the many caring and compassionate people we dealt with through the Minneapolis and Chippewa Valley V.A. facilities, as well as the nurses and therapists who have provided care through St. Joseph's Home Health & Hospice. A special thank you as well to son-in-law, Jack Knutson, who was Dad's main caregiver after the stroke and allowed Dad to spend his remaining time at home.

It was Dad's request that the family honor him by purchasing a memorial brick at Irvine Park. It was also his wish to donate his body to MedCure for medical research. Therefore, services will be held at a later date.