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Howard John Ruge 1918 - 1988

Howard John Ruge of Colon, Saint Joseph County, MI was born on August 7, 1918 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois United States, and died at age 70 years old on October 1, 1988 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, MI. Howard Ruge was buried at Lakeside Cemetery in Colon, St. Joseph County.

Howard John Ruge

Colon, Saint Joseph County, MI 49040

August 7, 1918

Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States

October 1, 1988

Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States

Male

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Howard John Ruge Howard Ruge (1918 - 1988)

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Howard John Ruge's History: 1918 - 1988

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Introduction

Howard John Ruge was born on August 7, 1918, in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA. His parents were Charles Franz Ruge (1882-1942) and Alma Helen Kister (1882-1964). He had five siblings: Mabel Mattie Evelyn (1910-1987), Roy Paul William (1912-1913), Charles Otto Andrew (1915-1984), Lillian (1917-1917), and William Warren Ruge (1920-2011). Howard grew up in Chicago and worked at Universal Casting Co. when he registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, at the age of 22. Two years later, on September 10, 1942, he enlisted in the Army in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 24. He was assigned to the Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA, and served as a Private in the Selectees (Enlisted Men) component. In September 1944, Howard was admitted to a medical facility for acute or unqualified otitis media. He was discharged from the Army on December 9, 1945. The following year, Howard married Veronica Ada Mansell (1919–2018) on January 11, 1946, in Chicago. They went on to have five children. Howard John Ruge passed away on October 1, 1988, at the Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA following a two week illness.
08/7

1918

Birthday

August 7, 1918

Birthdate

Chicago, Cook County, Illinois United States

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

He was white of German roots. His father, Charles Franz Ruge, was born in Polchow, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Deutschland. He left Hamburg, Germany on October 24, 1883 and arrived in the US either in 1884 or 1885. His mother, Alma Helen Kister was born and raised in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA.
Nationality & Locations

Howard was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He later moved to and lived in Colon, St Joseph, Michigan, USA 41 years.
Early Life & Education

Howard graduated from Englewood High School in Chicago.
Religious Beliefs

He was a member of St. Barbaras Catholic Church.
Military Service

Howard John Ruge registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, when he was 22 years old. At the time, he was employed at Universal Casting Co. Howard was single and without dependents, and his next of kin was his mother, Alma Helen Ruge. Howard enlisted in the Army on September 10, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois, when he was 24 years old. He had completed four years of high school and was a citizen of the United States. At the time of his enlistment, Howard was 5'11" tall, weighed 140 pounds, had a light complexion, blonde hair, and blue eyes. After enlisting, Howard was assigned to the Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA. He was a Private in the Selectees (Enlisted Men) component. His service number was 36370626. During his time in the Army, Howard's height was recorded as 70 inches (or 5'10"), and his weight was 133 pounds. In September 1944, he was admitted to a medical facility due to acute or unqualified otitis media. He was discharged from the facility later that same year. Howard was discharged from the Army on December 9, 1945, after serving for an unspecified period. His discharge was due to the completion of his duty, and he received an honorable discharge.
Professional Career

Howard worked at Universal Casting Co. when he registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, at the age of 22. He later worked for the Lear Siegler Inc. in Mendon, where he worked 33 years and retired from in 1983.
Personal Life & Family
10/1

1988

Death

October 1, 1988

Death date

Unknown
Cause of death

Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan United States
Death location

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Gravesite & Burial

mm/dd/yyyy
Funeral date
Lakeside Cemetery in Colon, St. Joseph County, Michigan 49040, United States
Burial location
Obituary

Howard J. Ruge, 70, of 55635 Old Shannon Road, died Saturday, Oct. 1, in Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo, after a two-week illness. He was born in Chicago and graduated from Englewood High School. He lived in Colon 41 years. In 1983 he retired from Lear Siegler Inc. in Mendon, where he worked 33 years. He served in the Air Force during World War II. He was a member of St. Barbaras Catholic Church. Surviving are his wife, Vera Mansell; daughters, Alice Cardy of Okemus, Janet Whittington of Middlebury, Ind., Jane Ruge of Constantine and Catheryn Lampe of Lawton; a son, Howard J. Ruge Il of Ackworth. Ga.: 12 grandchildren; and a brother, William Ruge of Gretna, Neb. A funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Barbaras Catholic Charch. Memorial donations may go to the church. Arrangements are by Schipper Funeral Home. Battle Creek Enquirer (Battle Creek, Michigan) Sunday, October 02, 1988

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2 Memories, Stories & Photos about Howard

Jane Petz

78 favorites

05/29/2012

Howard John Ruge, WWII Crew, New Guinea

Howard John Ruge is standing second from left as you are looking at the photo. My dad was stationed in the South Pacific during WWII repairing plane radios. In this photo he his stationed at New Guinea.

Date & Place: 1945 at New Guinea in Papua New Guinea

Comments

AncientFaces

400 favorites

05/11/2022

What sharing an old photo can do for strangers...this story is just fantastic.

Papua New Guinea, 1945: Howard John Ruge, standing second from left, with his WW2 buddies.

Community member Jane P. honored her father by sharing this WW2 photo of him. Shortly after sharing, a member immediately recognized HER father as one of the other soldiers standing beside Howard. About a year later another member recognized yet a third man in the photo. This one snapshot taken so many years ago continues to connect people today.

Who knows who will recognize their father next? Connect with others in the most unexpected way and share snapshots of your family just like Jane did.

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Facebook Fan

via Facebook

05/11/2022

TOO bad the picture did not come to public notice 20-25 years ago. Many of the young men in the picture might have still been alive and could have re-connected. A few might still be with us, but they would probably be centenarians!

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