Henry Jacob Ruff, 01 May 1922 - 10 May 2014

RUFF, SIEGEL, SWANN, JAKOB-KOEHLER, DIETRICH, BRYSON, RUFF, VANDE VOORT, SCHLESSELMAN, RASTI, MOERSHEL

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 6/4/2014 at 16:59:45

Henry Ruff, 92

Celebration of life service for Dr. Henry J. Ruff, 92, Middle Amana, was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 17, at the Middle Amana Community Church. He died May 10, 2014, at Colonial Manor of Amana.

Church elder Kristie Yoder officiated at the service.

Burial was in the South Amana Cemetery with military honors.

Memorials may be made to the Amana Church Society, Camp Courageous, Salvation Army or a worthwhile cause.

Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, was in charge of arrangements.

Henry Jacob Ruff was born March 1, 1922, in South Amana, the son of Ferdinand J. and Henrietta M. Siegel Ruff. He attended the Amana schools and graduated in 1940. He attended the University of Iowa where he received a bachelor of science degree in 1943 and a Doctor of Dentistry in 1945.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving 20 years as a dentist, and retired with the rank of commander. He received several medals and honors. He traveled extensively while serving in the Navy. After retiring from the service, he returned to South Amana and opened a dental practice, which he continued for 18 years.

He married Eva Marie Swann in 1945 and she died in 1948.

He married Ingeborg Jakob-Koehler in 1954. They had one daughter and one son, Heidi Karen and Eric Karl. Inge died in 1982.

He married Emaline Louise Dietrich Bryson in November 1983. She died in January of 2012.

He was a member of the Amana Heritage Society and translated many historical letters and documents from the old German script to English. He was also a member of the Amana Arts Guild, the Marengo American Legion Post 76 and served as an elder of the Amana Church Society.

His love of friends and music were very important. He and his wife, Inge, were instrumental in originating the Amana Oktoberfest. Being with friends, singing German songs, telling stories of his interesting life and enjoying an occasional happy hour gave him great satisfaction.

In 1993, Henry and Emaline built their dream home where he claimed he had “everything” he needed. He practiced fitness with daily exercise and swimming until January 2014. He was very generous with his time and money, supporting many causes in which he believed.

The family extends appreciation to the staff at Colonial Manor of Amana and Esssence of Life Hospice for the loving care they provided.

Ruff is survived by his son, Eric (Sherry) Ruff, Redding, Calif.; five stepchildren, Deborah (John) Vande Voort, Shawnee, Kan.; Dianne (Robert) Schlesselman, Williamsburg; Douglas (Angelika) Bryson, Middle Amana; Jamie (Susie) Bryson, Middle Amana, and Ida Bryson, Iowa City; grandson, Austin Ruff, Redding, Calif.; eight step-grandchildren, James (Stefani) Schlesselman, Erica (Jeremy) Rasti, Erin (Austin) Nichols, Carissa Bryson, Reese Bryson, Renata Bryson, Gina Bryson, Levi Bryson and son David Alan, and two other step-great-grandchildren, Isabella Schlesselman and Samantha Schlesselman.

In addition to his wives, he was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Heidi, in 1983, and his stepmother, Henrietta Johanna Moershel Ruff, in 2009.

The Williamsburg Journal Tribune, 22 May 2014
The Gazette, 14 May 2014