William F. Ruge

William F. Ruge ("Bill"), age 89, of West Berlin, New Jersey, passed peacefully at home on August 29, 2025 in the presence of loved ones. Bill was buried in a private ceremony on September 3, 2025 at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Berlin, New Jersey with Fr. Michael A. DeLeon officiating and a military honor guard paying tribute. A Celebration of Bill's life will take place on October 18, 2025.

Bill was born in Lake Orion, Michigan to Paul and Katherine (Vocke) Ruge, the youngest of six (6) children. He graduated from Lake Orion High School in 1954. After high school he worked for the Fisher Body Division of General Motors as an inspector and secured his real estate license. Bill attended Arizona State University where he majored in Political Science, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree. He worked a variety of jobs while attending school, including as a Liquor Store Clerk, Bartender, Carpet Layer, Painter, Parking lot attendant, Meat cutter, Tile layer, Usher, Furniture mover, Groundskeeper and Driver.

After securing his college degree, Bill was called to duty by the U.S. Army. He was trained at their Intelligence School in Baltimore, Maryland earning a high-level Security Clearance with access to classified information. He also received a NATO Secret Clearance status which allowed him the same level of access to classified documents from NATO nations. When Bill's training was completed, he was stationed at one of the five bases in West Germany with Intelligence Headquarters. He served with distinction as an Intelligence Coordinator until his Honorable Discharge in 1962.

Following Bill's discharge from the Army, he was employed for 35 years as a claims' adjuster for INA/CIGNA. He started out in Detroit, Michigan but ended up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at CIGNA's home office. At the time of his retirement, he was overseeing large loss Maritime claims from all over the world.

Shortly after relocating his work place to Philadelphia, Bill met his Wife, Deborah (Shore) Ruge. They were married in 1982. This is when their respective families merged and the fun began.

Bill enjoyed traveling with his Wife, family members and friends all over the world. His preferred method of travel was by boat since you only had to pack your suitcases to get on and off the boat and not in any port of call.

Bill had a weak spot for four-legged canines and helped raise five (5) of his own: Stubby, Tiger, Nugget, Chipper and Dolly. He was famous for teaching Tiger tricks. This talent got him and Tiger an invite to appear in a Stupid Pet Trick episode of the David Letterman show in New York City.

Bill was an avid reader. His major subjects of interest were Political Science, History, Economics, Real Estate and Business Law. His outside interests (besides reading and teaching dog tricks) included swimming, bowling, fishing, hunting, golfing, spectator interest in all major sports and spending time with other family members, especially his nieces and nephews who totaled slightly under 100 at last count. This was quite a leap from the 20 he had at the time he married. He was famous for teaching many to play poker before the mandatory, minimum poker age. He did such a good job he regretted the day they reached the threshold. Bill also played a mean hand of cribbage and always loved an ice cold Budweiser before Michelob Ultra Light came along. Bill was also the Family's unparalleled bocce ball champ and was known for his Ruge Boogies!

Bill is survived by his Wife of nearly 43 years; his brother, Fr. Paul Ruge (Robert); three beloved sister-in-laws, Patricia (Gillette) Ruge, Pamela (Shore) Mirr and Charley (Duvall) Shore and one brother-in-law, David (Charly) Shore.

Bill was dearly loved and survived by seventeen (17) nieces and nephews including John (Jennie Grau) Ruge, Anne (Mark) Childs, Thomas (Cathy-Jo Ponzi) Ruge, Margaret Smith, Joan (Timothy) Dodge, Christine (Steven) Zeuli and Joleen (Bruce) Burwitz; Joseph (Debbie), Michael (Sue) and Teresa Konczal and Paula (Steven) Smith; Doug (Susan) Shore, Lisa (Thomas) Horne, and Michelle (Steven) Erickson; Heather (Sarah Ellison) Mirr; Kellie and Brian (Savannah) Shore.

Bill was also survived by forty-five (45) Great Nieces and Nephews including Christopher and Shade Ruge; Emily (Alex) Culy, Scott (Scharzard) Coolbaugh, Benjamin (Jovanka) and Austin (Riley Pirouet) Childs; Erin (Michael) Phelps and Kyle (Ashley) Ruge; Joleen, Adam (Laura) and Mitchell Smith; Eric (Jenny) and Kurt Dodge, Jill (Jonny) Brammah and Jamie (Andrew Maloney) Dodge; Garrick and Hannah Johnson; Michael (Colby) Zeuli, Alexandra (Kevin) Kinsella and Tara Zeuli; Ellie Burwitz; Elizabeth, Benjamin (Ashleigh) and Andrew Konczal; Lea Konczal; Mia (Gabrielle), Logan, Lily and Owen Smith; Kassidy (David Dennenberg) Giles and Jacob Whitney; Jillian and Ryder Ellison-Mirr; Grayce Shore; Shawn (Lindsy) Pettibone, Angel Neer, Breezy and Rhen (Chloe) Shore; David Roach and Rachel (Adam) Kimball; Ashley (Billy) Johnston and Alicia (Bobby) Maze; Aurora Erickson; Jacksen and another David Shore.

The Great, Great Uncle Bill is survived by thirty-five (35) Great, Great Nieces and Nephews including Mariella, Rosette, and Violet Culy; Sam and Lily Coolbaugh; Lucia, Oliver and Theodore Childs; Kollyns Childs; Codi, James, Connor, Andrew, Patrick, and Collin Ruge; Carter and Ethan Phelps; Zachariah Maldonado and Isadora Smith; Miles Lee; Nora Dodge; Kit Brammah, Lenora Zeuli; Henry and Harper Kinsella; Jaxon, Charlie, Rylee and Tyson Pettibone; Maycee Johnston; Rocky Shore; Kyler Pettibone and Dean, Kenny and Brock Arends.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers George (2010), Fred (2020) and Paul (2022) Ruge and his sister, Elizabeth Ruge (2020). He was also preceded in death by two brother-in-laws, Conrad (Elizabeth) Konczal ( 2015) and Dennis (Joanne) Shore (2020); and two special nieces, Janice (Donald Johnson) Ruge (2016) and Tammy (Ali Parviz) Whitney (2025).

Bill was a regular drop-in at his brother Paul's house over the Christmas Holidays because he had eight (8) children he could spoil that he didn't have to take home. Fortunately, they were all properly trained so it didn't matter.

Bill supported many charitable causes.

Memorial Donations may be made to an animal rescue shelter or for any other purpose you deem worthy.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the medical providers from Virtua Home Health Care (especially Chris Miller, R.N. and Teresa Midure, HHA) for providing Bill with home-based medical and home health aid from January 2000 until he was transitioned to hospice care in February 2025.

The family also wishes to extend their gratitude to the Samaritan Hospice staff assigned to Bill before he passed. They include the top notch social worker (Christine); his very dedicated and primary R.N. (Tracie); his substitute R.N. (Susie) and his extremely hard-working and efficient Home Health Aid (Juan).

The Family also extends special thanks to long-standing friends and neighbors on the block who were a major form of support for Bill and his Family on an as-needed basis.

Arrangements under the direction of the COSTANTINO-PRIMO FUNERAL HOME, BERLIN NJ.