IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Harold
Ruehmkorff
January 22, 1921 – January 18, 2017
Obituary
PERCY – It is with human sadness but spiritual joy the family of Harold Ruehmkorff announce his transition January 18, 2017, to join his creator and savior, his loving wife of 57 years, Florence, many family members and a lifetime of friends. He departed quietly from Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, with the prayers and farewells of his family. He was 95 years old.
Harold Ruehmkorff was born to Herman and Emma Ruehmkorff, January 22, 1921, and was raised on the family farm south of Percy, Illinois. He was baptized, confirmed, and a lifetime member of Peace Lutheran Church in Steeleville, Illinois, where he also served terms as usher and councilman. He graduated from Buchanan School near Willisville, Illinois, where he met his future wife, Florence Mientz, whom he married July 26, 1942 at Peace Lutheran Church, Steeleville, Illinois.
Harold is succeeded in life by a sister, Leona (Ruehmkorff) Dreyer, a son, Gene Ruehmkorff and daughter-in-law, Linda (Stallman) Ruehmkorff and daughter, Rosalie (Ruehmkorff) Wente and son-in-law, James Wente. His grandchildren include granddaughters, Candace (Ruehmkorff) Whitehead and husband, Mark Whitehead, Tonya (Wente) Ward and husband, Robert Ward, Petra (Ruehmkorff) Massetto and husband, Scott Massetto, and a grandson, Shawn Wente and his fiancée, Shannon Meyer.
Harold is succeeded in life with great grandchildren including, Payne Massetto, Christopher Whitehead, Kyle Whitehead, Brynne Massetto, James Robert Ward, William Ward, Maya Massetto, and Brantley Wente. Harold is also succeeded by a very special companion of 14 years, Tiny.
Harold Ruehmkorff was preceded in death May 4, 1998, by his wife, Florence (Mientz) Ruehmkorff. Also preceded in death by his mother, Emma (Gerberding) Ruehmkorff, father, Herman Ruehmkorff, Jr., sister, Bernadine (Ruehmkorff) Witbracht, and a special grandfather, Herman Ruehmkorff, Sr. Also preceeding him in death were brothers-in-law, Herbert Mientz, Lawrence Dreyer, Earl Witbracht, Walter Helfers, Albert Helfers, Herman Mines, Jr., Irvin Mines, Henry Mines, Adolph Mines, and Arthur Mines, sisters-in-law including, Lydia Helfers Bruggeman Knop, Elsie Helfers Wittenborn, Esther Helfers Mines, Elsie Mines Guebert, Sophie Mines, and Josephine Mines Foertsch.
Harold began his lifelong career as a farmer at age 13 with a team of horses and a walking plow. For several years, he was employed by Niederbrach Truck Lines and then spent 20 years as a machinist at the current Dorma Manufacturing Plant in Steeleville, Illinois, where he was affectionately known as "Smiley" or "Roomie". He loved to raise and watch all growing things including a variety of livestock, fowl and crops. He held a special fondness for flowers, gardening, wildlife, the call of the whippoorwill, his lake, Gene Autry and "Big Band" music, and therefore loved to dance. Also he liked to play pinochle and socialize with his many friends. Other joys included the changing seasons, the dawn of a beautiful day, the close of a hard day's work, and pride in a life of hard work done well. He was proud of his German heritage and his neighborhood and friends.
Harold was a longtime member of the Randolph County Farm Bureau, past member of the National Farmer's Organization, a 58 year member of the International Brotherhood of Machinist and Aerospace Workers Local #673, in which he once served on the Local Council, past member of the Steeleville American Association of Retired People where he once served on council, longtime member of the National American Association of Retired People, member of several bowling leagues, and past member of the Chester Boat and Yacht Club.
Harold will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He will be eternally grateful to the many kind and caring people he met during his stays at the Randolph County Care Center in Sparta, Illinois, Sparta Community Hospital, and Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Many there assisted him in his times of need, brought smiles to his face, and offered him encouragement and hope during his darkest hours.
Harold Ruehmkorff's visitation will be held at Wilson's Funeral Home in Steeleville, Illinois, phone 618-965-3312, on Sunday from 5 pm to 8 pm and on Monday from 7:30 am until 9 am then from 10 am until 11 am Monday at the church. A celebration of life will follow at 11:00 am, Monday, January 23, 2017 at Peace Lutheran Church in Steeleville, Illinois with Rev. S. Blake Duncan officiating. Burial will follow at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery (Post Oak), in Rural Campbell Hill, Illinois. There Harold will join many family members and friends. Condolences may also be left online at www.wilsonsfuneralhome.net . Memorials may be given to American Cancer Association, Peace Lutheran Church or St. John's Lutheran Cemetery (Post Oak).
Harold Ruehmkorff was born to Herman and Emma Ruehmkorff, January 22, 1921, and was raised on the family farm south of Percy, Illinois. He was baptized, confirmed, and a lifetime member of Peace Lutheran Church in Steeleville, Illinois, where he also served terms as usher and councilman. He graduated from Buchanan School near Willisville, Illinois, where he met his future wife, Florence Mientz, whom he married July 26, 1942 at Peace Lutheran Church, Steeleville, Illinois.
Harold is succeeded in life by a sister, Leona (Ruehmkorff) Dreyer, a son, Gene Ruehmkorff and daughter-in-law, Linda (Stallman) Ruehmkorff and daughter, Rosalie (Ruehmkorff) Wente and son-in-law, James Wente. His grandchildren include granddaughters, Candace (Ruehmkorff) Whitehead and husband, Mark Whitehead, Tonya (Wente) Ward and husband, Robert Ward, Petra (Ruehmkorff) Massetto and husband, Scott Massetto, and a grandson, Shawn Wente and his fiancée, Shannon Meyer.
Harold is succeeded in life with great grandchildren including, Payne Massetto, Christopher Whitehead, Kyle Whitehead, Brynne Massetto, James Robert Ward, William Ward, Maya Massetto, and Brantley Wente. Harold is also succeeded by a very special companion of 14 years, Tiny.
Harold Ruehmkorff was preceded in death May 4, 1998, by his wife, Florence (Mientz) Ruehmkorff. Also preceded in death by his mother, Emma (Gerberding) Ruehmkorff, father, Herman Ruehmkorff, Jr., sister, Bernadine (Ruehmkorff) Witbracht, and a special grandfather, Herman Ruehmkorff, Sr. Also preceeding him in death were brothers-in-law, Herbert Mientz, Lawrence Dreyer, Earl Witbracht, Walter Helfers, Albert Helfers, Herman Mines, Jr., Irvin Mines, Henry Mines, Adolph Mines, and Arthur Mines, sisters-in-law including, Lydia Helfers Bruggeman Knop, Elsie Helfers Wittenborn, Esther Helfers Mines, Elsie Mines Guebert, Sophie Mines, and Josephine Mines Foertsch.
Harold began his lifelong career as a farmer at age 13 with a team of horses and a walking plow. For several years, he was employed by Niederbrach Truck Lines and then spent 20 years as a machinist at the current Dorma Manufacturing Plant in Steeleville, Illinois, where he was affectionately known as "Smiley" or "Roomie". He loved to raise and watch all growing things including a variety of livestock, fowl and crops. He held a special fondness for flowers, gardening, wildlife, the call of the whippoorwill, his lake, Gene Autry and "Big Band" music, and therefore loved to dance. Also he liked to play pinochle and socialize with his many friends. Other joys included the changing seasons, the dawn of a beautiful day, the close of a hard day's work, and pride in a life of hard work done well. He was proud of his German heritage and his neighborhood and friends.
Harold was a longtime member of the Randolph County Farm Bureau, past member of the National Farmer's Organization, a 58 year member of the International Brotherhood of Machinist and Aerospace Workers Local #673, in which he once served on the Local Council, past member of the Steeleville American Association of Retired People where he once served on council, longtime member of the National American Association of Retired People, member of several bowling leagues, and past member of the Chester Boat and Yacht Club.
Harold will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He will be eternally grateful to the many kind and caring people he met during his stays at the Randolph County Care Center in Sparta, Illinois, Sparta Community Hospital, and Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Many there assisted him in his times of need, brought smiles to his face, and offered him encouragement and hope during his darkest hours.
Harold Ruehmkorff's visitation will be held at Wilson's Funeral Home in Steeleville, Illinois, phone 618-965-3312, on Sunday from 5 pm to 8 pm and on Monday from 7:30 am until 9 am then from 10 am until 11 am Monday at the church. A celebration of life will follow at 11:00 am, Monday, January 23, 2017 at Peace Lutheran Church in Steeleville, Illinois with Rev. S. Blake Duncan officiating. Burial will follow at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery (Post Oak), in Rural Campbell Hill, Illinois. There Harold will join many family members and friends. Condolences may also be left online at www.wilsonsfuneralhome.net . Memorials may be given to American Cancer Association, Peace Lutheran Church or St. John's Lutheran Cemetery (Post Oak).
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