John A. Ruis

Funeral services for John A. Ruis will be on held Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Christian Reformed Church in Pease with Pastor David Smit and Pastor Don Brown officiating. Visitation will be held Friday, March 5, from 5-8 p.m. at the church in Pease. Interment will take place in the Pease Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by Hansen-Hayes American Legion Post #178 and Siemers-Hakes VFW Post #10794. Music will be provided by Lois Roelofs and Shirley Geurkink, and Pam Ruis. Casketbearers will be his grandsons Steve Moos, Joel Ruis, Ian Nikolas, Jeff Ruis, Craig Ruis, Grant Ruis, and Greg Ruis. Arrangements are being handled by the Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home in Milaca, Minnesota. www.pjfuneralhome.com John A. Ruis was born on November 8, 1924 near Pease to Gerrit and Kathryn (Kuperus) Ruis. He attended #9 Country School, Pease Christian School, and graduated from Milaca High School in 1942. At the age of 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served during World War II on the European Theatre with the 6th Armored Division under General Patton. He received the Silver Star for meritorious efforts while serving in Germany. On March 8, 1946, he was united in marriage to Sylvia Hanenburg. They were blessed with four children: Kathy, Alan, Bill, and Tom. John’s life work was farming, and he served on several county and state dairy farming boards. He was a lifelong member of the Christian Reformed Church in Pease. His involvements in church included serving on the council, teaching catechism classes, leading the Ladies Aid Bible Study, and corresponding through Crossroads Ministry. He also served on the Pease Christian School Board. John was an avid reader, enjoyed fishing, golfing, deer hunting, playing cards, woodworking, and he always welcomed chats with visitors. John passed away at the age of 85 years, 3 months, and 22 days on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at his home in Milaca while under Hospice Care. John will be dearly missed by Sylvia, his wife of almost 64 years; his children, Kathy (Paul) Moos of Rock Valley, Iowa, Alan (Marla) Ruis of Milaca, Bill (Pam) Ruis of Princeton, and Tom (Dianne) Ruis of Milaca; 11 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; brother Matt (Joanne) Ruis of Milaca; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by parents, brother Edward Ruis, sister Jennie Timmer, and great-granddaughter Riley Ash.