Urban P. "Urb" Ruden 1913-2009

RUDEN, WOLFE, GERDEMANN, SCHMIT, HAAS, KAUDER, FELTON, RODENKAMP, MERZ

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 6/28/2017 at 13:50:29

September 25, 2009, Dubuque Telegraph Herald

BERNARD, Iowa -- Urban P. "Urb" Ruden, 96, of 218 Bernard Road, Bernard, died Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, at Shady Rest Care Center, Cascade.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today at St. Patrick's Garryowen Church, Garryowen, with the Rev. Douglas Loecke officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, is in charge of arrangements.

He was born on Sept. 16, 1913, in Holy Cross, son of Nicolas and Mary (Wolfe) Ruden Jr. He married Virginia "Virgie" Gerdemann on Sept. 24, 1940, at Holy Family Church, New Melleray, and together they farmed in the Bernard area since 1945.

Urb served as Bernard's mayor for 10 years and served on the Bernard council for 12 years. He was instrumental in establishing the Bernard Fire Department, the building of the first fire station, and in establishing Bernard Telephone Co. He was a member of the Bernard Commercial Club and was a founding member of Prairie League baseball. He also was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus Cascade Council 930.

Surviving are his wife, Virginia "Virgie" Ruden; three children, Judy (Don) Schmit, Jim (Chris) Ruden, and Donna (Don) Haas; eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, Steve (Lorri) Schmit, and their children, Jenica, Eric and Jill, Anne (Kyle) Kauder, and their children, Kayla and Vic, Mike (Cheri) Schmit, and their children, Drew and Jake, Janet (Kevin) Felton, and their children, Mae, Libby and Nicole, Karen (Matt) Rodekamp, and their children, Eden and Claire, Rod (Thea) Ruden, and their children, Gage, Ava and Tate, Ryan (Peggy) Ruden, and their daughter, Jillian, and Sarah (Matt) Merz; two brothers, Frank (Eleanor) Ruden and Eldon (Dorothy) Ruden, both of Dubuque

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Ralph and Wilmer; a sister Theresa; and two brothers in infancy.