James Ruhl

OBITUARY James Francis Ruhl was born on April 5, 1943, in Sterling, IL, the son of Francis and Gladys (Hamblock) Ruhl. He graduated in 1961, from Naperville High School in Naperville, IL. He then attended 1 year at Northern IL University, where he met his future wife Linda Schlupp. James then entered the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1967 from West Point and was sent to Vietnam to fight in the war from 1968-1969and was awarded several combat and marksmanship medals. . Jim returned to the United States and was then able to marry the love of his live Linda Schlupp on September 26, 1970. They lived at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX for a short while and 3 years in Germany. Together they had four children Cathy, Ken, Brian, and Mike. In 1974 Jim was discharged from the Army and then began his civilian career in industrial engineering. He worked with the Johnson & Johnson Company and Donnelly Printing until 1984. He then moved to Long Prairie to become Vice President of Manufacturing at Hart Press. Jim transferred to Kansas City, Missouri in 1993 to work in computer distribution programming. In 1999 he and Linda moved back to Minnesota to work in Minneapolis and live in Parkers Prairie. Jim was a very intelligent man who was especially talented in the field of mathematics. He loved good food, fine wine, classical and folk music, and literature. He was an avid reader and loved working on the computer. He was especially interested in family genealogy. Jim lived his life according to the West Point creed of Duty, Honor, Country. He was a man of honesty and integrity and served his country with the same kind of courage as the way he faced his illness and passing. He was a devoted family man, who loved his children and grandchildren. He put others needs in front of his own and was a man you could count on when someone needed help. He will be missed by those who knew and loved him. James F. Ruhl died on Monday, August 22, 2011 at the Douglas County Hospital at the age of 68 years old. He is survived by his loving wife of almost 41 years Linda Ruhl of Parkers Prairie, MN; daughter Cathy (Mark) Houston, of Monticello, MN; sons Ken (Robin) Ruhl of Kansas City, Missouri; Brian (Becky) Ruhl of Evansville, MN; and Mike Ruhl of St. Paul, MN; eight grandchildren Ashley Anderson, Danielle Anderson, Dane Anderson, Carter Houston, Sophie Houston, Elizabeth Ruhl, Samantha Ruhl, Hannah Ruhl, and Sara Ruhl; great grandson Ian Anderson; sister Kathleen (Dave) Zadra of Milwaukee, WI; and brother Steve (Sharon) Ruhl of Naperville, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents. A Memorial Service was held on Friday, August 26, 2011 at the Anderson Funeral Home Chapel in Alexandria, MN with the Reverend ???? officiating. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. www.andersonfuneral.net