"To the Family of Robert Ruess, You have our deepest sympathy. We had many fun times playing cards and going out to eat together. Love Don and Florence"
In loving memory of
Robert H. Ruess
September 13, 1924 - July 9, 2001
Robert Ruess WEST LIBERTY, Iowa - Robert H. Ruess, 76, died Monday July 9, 2001, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a heart attack. A funeral mass will be 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The Rev. Ed O'Melia will officiate. Burial will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery in West Liberty. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at the church, 109 W. Sixth St. in West Liberty. Memorials may be made to the St. Joseph Catholic Church or the West Liberty Rescue Unit. Mr. Ruess was born Sept. 13, 1924, in West Liberty, the son of Albert and Margaret Gatens Ruess. He married Geraldine D. Wissink June 1, 1948. He graduated from West Liberty High School in 1942. He and his wife farmed on the Ruess family farm for 50 years, moving to West Liberty in 1995. He was a Pioneer Seed Corn salesman for several years. They have spent winters in Arizona since 1980. They served as a home to an AFS Student, Boonmak Hongyim from Thailand in 1964-1965. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in West Liberty, active in Lions Club, AFS, Farm Bureau, 4-H Leader, member of the Muscatine County Fair Board and Softball Association. He was prominent softball pitcher in the 1940's. He was a daily volunteer for his church, community, West Liberty Depot Restoration, school and friends. He enjoyed playing cards, golf, music and all sports. Survivors include his wife, Geraldine Ruess of West Liberty; two daughters, Julie Penno and her husband, Bob, of Kettering, Ohio and Kathy Carter and her husband, Tom, of West Liberty; five sons, Terry Ruess and his wife, Teresa Berger, of West Liberty, Dick Ruess and his wife, Paula Schaedlich, of Baltimore, Md., Bill Ruess and his wife, Vonda Fix, of Swisher, Larry Ruess and his wife, Bess Zinger, of Glendale, Ariz. and John Ruess of New York City, N.Y.; 18 grandchildren, Jaime and Ryan Ruess, Julia Ruess, Tricia, Cathy, Jeff, Doug and Joe Penno, Charissa, Casey, Charles, Kelsi and Cody Ruess, Elizabeth and Nathan Ruess, Matt, Holly and Allison Carter; and two sisters, Cecilia Cotter of Corvallis, Ore. and Dorothy Allen of West Liberty. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Edmund, Donald, and James; and a sister, Mary Jane Marron.