Harlan Dean Ruthruff

Harlan Dean Ruthruff
September 01, 1950 – December 22, 2023
Harlan Ruthruff, 73 of Mishawaka, Indiana, passed away on December 22, 2023. He is survived by his siblings Allan Ruthruff and Janet Sackett. His children Travis (Lori) Ruthruff of Mishawaka, Troy (Eliza) Ruthruff of Florida, Tracy (Rick) Jackowich of Virginia, grandchildren Stephanie Ruthruff, Shad Ruthruff, Andrea Hollywood, Alyssa Ruthruff, Trey Ruthruff, Drake Jackowich, Dylan Jackowich, Jaide Willette, Rand Willette, Paige Willette and great grandchildren Aurora Tenorio, Marleigh Jackowich, along with several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Ernest & Mildred (French) Ruthruff, siblings Duane Ruthruff, Donna Mae Ruthruff, Alvin Ruthruff, Barb Rench, Ernest Ruthruff, Jerry Ruthruff, Margie Peake, Russell Ruthruff, Leonard Ruthruff, and most recently his beloved wife Brenda Ruthruff, which he married on January 24, 1970.
He worked for Allied Products in South Bend for over 20 years until they closed. He worked for Reese Hitch in Goshen until they moved out of the country. Recently he worked and retired from MORryde in Elkhart, where he was a Mill Right Maintenance Tech for all companies. According to his kids and grandkids he could fix anything, if any toy was ever to break, all we would hear was "don't throw it away Grandpa will fix it." He was also a life-long auto mechanic and had a passion for Hot Rod classic cars.
Harlan was an avid deer and rabbit hunter as well as a passionate fisherman, spending his time in the field or in a tree was his "safe place." He would rabbit hunt almost daily during season with his best friend Dallas and would never miss an opening day of trout season. His main hobby was his family. He would never miss a grandkid's sporting event or school function and he was a horseshoe throwing master at all family get togethers. Harlan enlisted in the Army in 1969 and was stationed in Hawaii. During this time, he was in line to go to Vietnam three times. He was pulled out of line each and every time (during the third time his equipment was already on the plane). They needed him to stay and train new soldiers on how to build the mobile bridges for our machinery over there. He was a hero to not only his family but his country as well.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, December 28, 2023 from 12:30 pm to 2:30pm, with a service following at 2:30pm to celebrate his life. Burial for Harlan and Brenda will follow immediately after the service at Chapel Hill Funeral Memorial Gardens.
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