Henry Eugene Ruehle

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Dr. Henry Eugene Ruehle, 89, of Houston, Texas, who died June 10, 2023.

He was born June 18, 1933 in East Orange, New Jersey, to Etta Ruehle (née Schmidt) and Eugene Ruehle.

Henry was raised by his mother in Youngstown, Ohio, and later in Hubbard, Ohio.

After graduating from Hubbard High School in 1951, Henry enlisted in the United States Navy serving in the Naval Dental Corps. It was during this time he met his first wife, Elaine Pannunzio, and they were married fifty years until her death in 2004. She was an integral part of his success in his academic and medical training as well as in his medical practice.

He enrolled in Youngstown State University in 1955, triple-majoring in biology, chemistry and physics, graduating in 1959 with honors.

Their daughters, Denise and Karen, were born while he worked and attended school full time.

In 1959, Henry was accepted into the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Illinois where he excelled in his medical studies and was inducted into Sigma Sigma Phi, a national osteopathic service fraternity for medical students.

Dr. Ruehle continued his medical training in a family practice internship followed by a surgical residency at Brentwood Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. During this time, his and Elaine's third child, Jon, was born in 1964.

In 1967, Henry moved his family to Brookfield, Wisconsin, where he established a private practice in family medicine and general surgery and was granted surgical privileges at New Berlin Memorial Hospital. There he was named Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery.

In 1974, Dr. Ruehle moved his family to Texas, joining the surgical staff of Doctors Hospital in Houston. There he was elected by his peers to the positions of Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery for several consecutive years while also operating a private family medical practice until 1982 when he became Medical Director at Community Clinic in Houston, Texas, a non-profit established by Doctors Services Foundation.

As a clinical teacher at Community Clinic he provided outpatient care to members of the community while also providing medical instruction and mentorship to third and fourth-year medical students and residents.

Henry sustained a deep core belief in God and believed that his academic opportunities, surgical skill and overall success in life was evidence of Him in his life. Henry trusted that whatever one freely gave to others was blessed by the Almighty and therefore often forgave his patients' medical debts. He was highly respected by the nurses and staff of Doctors Hospital in addition to the thousands of patients for whom he cared.

Henry was an astute observer and lifelong learner who deeply enjoyed the pursuit of knowledge through the study of literature, art and music. He had a keen sense of humor, and was a self-taught pianist and guitarist who also enjoyed drawing. He had a passion for aviation, ultimately earning his license as a private pilot.

He spent the last 14 years of his life inseparable from his cherished wife, his "Patty Anne". They shared a love of traveling, antiquing and thrifting, cooking, laughing, and spending happy times with family and friends. More than anything else, they enjoyed spending time together.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife, Elaine Pannunzio Ruehle.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia McHugh Ruehle; his children, Denise (Bill) Pfahl, Karen (Anil) Kumar, and Jon (Susan) Ruehle, Richard (Stephanie) Miller, Karen (John) Watkins, and Kate (David) Isaac; and twelve grandchildren; Lauren, William, Coby, Rachel, Caroline, Chad, Madeleine, Claire, Charlotte, Kyle, Jack and Molly who cherish their memories of a loving, patient, kind and fun-loving grandfather. He was also blessed to be a great-grandfather to Ember and Bostyn.

Henry leaves a remarkable legacy built on honesty, integrity, kindness and a genuine concern for others. He will be greatly missed.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 am, Friday, July 28, 2023 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 11720 Joan of Arc Drive, Houston, Texas 77024.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a memorial donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.st.jude.org.