Waldo John Ruehs

1926 - 2024

Waldo John Ruehs of Plainfield, Iowa died March 12, 2024, at the age of 97 at the Waverly Health Center of natural causes.
Waldo was born at home on May 20, 1926 near Readlyn, Iowa. He was the son of John Carl Ruehs and Emilie Foelske Ruehs. He was raised in the Readlyn and Plainfield areas attending country schools through the 8th grade. He attended parochial school and was confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church, Western Douglas of rural Plainfield. On November 26, 1950, he married Mildred Selma Kohagen at the Spring Fountain Church of rural Sumner. They were married 60 years and together raised 4 children, Dixie, Sheila, Michael and Julie. He actively managed his agricultural property along with his father and son Michael for his whole life. He also was a Holstein dairyman for 52 years, raised Hampshire hogs and did custom silo filling.
He enjoyed serving on numerous boards including: Frederika Creamery, Farmers Butter and Dairy of Fredericksburg (for 20 years and serving as President), Plainfield School District, Iowa Dairy Products, Iowa Dairy Council and Bremer County Dairy Promoters. He was a member of the Bremer County Soybean Association and the Bremer County Cattleman Association and was named Cattleman of the Year in 1996. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church his whole adult life serving as a deacon and a trustee over the years. He also enjoyed playing dartball. He especially loved the little members of the congregation and their visits.
He loved dancing, fishing, traveling, deer hunting, playing cards and his cats. He collected Minneapolis Moline toy tractors and restored antique tractors. He drove his MMs in parades and on tractor rides. He was a member of the Antique Engine and Power Club of Fredricksburg. Most of all he loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, never forgetting their birthdays.
He is survived by his 4 children: Dixie (Darrel) Kramer of Plainfield, Sheila (Thomas) Evancie of Auburn, CA, Michael (Mishell) Ruehs of Plainfield, and Julie Lewis of Kansas City, MO. He also had 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife, and 3 sisters Ruth (Carl) Schwemm, Esther (Leland) Bergmann, Darlene (Randall) Niedert and several nieces, nephews, and brothers and sisters in law.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 18, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church –Western Douglas rural Plainfield with Pastor Kim Thacker officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly, Iowa and also an hour prior to services on Monday at the church. Memorials may be directed to St. John's Lutheran Church – Western Douglas or Cedar Valley Hospice and online condolences for Waldo may be left at www.kaisercorson.com 319-352-1187