Ruhland, Mary Ann 1910-2003

RUHLAND, GERGEN, MALGET

Posted By: Linda Ziemann (email)
Date: 10/14/2005 at 22:06:12

Mary Ann Ruhland
LeMars Sentinel, Friday, October 31, 2003

Mary Ann Ruhland, 93, of Le Mars and formerly of Struble, died Friday, Oct. 31, 2003, at Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars.

The former Mary Ann Gergen was born Oct. 4, 1910, at rural Alton, the daughter of Mike and Elizabeth (Malget) Gergen. She grew up on a farm near Alton, attended the former St. Mary's Academy, and worked at home until her marriage. On Jan. 24, 1933, she married Frank Ruhland at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alton. Following their marriage, the couple farmed near Struble until 1971. In 1971 her husband Frank entered a nursing home where he lived until his death in 1983. During this time. Mary lived near Maurice, in Struble, and moved to Le Mars in 1986. She had resided at Plymouth Manor since January 1998.

Mrs. Ruhland was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars and had been a longtime member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Struble. She was also a member of the Christian Mothers Society and the Rosary-Altar Society at St. Joseph's Church in Struble.

Mary loved cardinal birds and had many pictures and decorations of cardinals. She loved to crochet and made afghans for all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mary loved praying her rosary and praying for her family. She especially appreciated all the devotion, caring, faithful visits, phone calls, cards and letters from her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her two daughters, Irene Ruhland of Coralville, and Rosemary and her husband, Bill Nies, of Atchison, Kan.; 10 grandchildren, Roger Ruhland and Rhonda Ruhland of rural Le Mars, Rose Ruhland of Sioux Falls, S.D., Richard Ruhland of Ireton, Jona Ruhland of Sioux Falls, S.D., John Ruhland and his wife, Lori, of Le Mars, Janet (Ruhland) Steen and her husband, Jerry, of Sioux City, Jeff Ruhland and his wife, Amy, of Guthrie Center, John Robert Nies, and Mark Nies and his wife Carrie all of Indianapolis, Ind.; 13 great-grandchildren; a brother, Leo Gergen who resides at Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen; a sister-in-law, Esther Gergen of Le Mars; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Frank; a son, James Leo Ruhland in 1989; a sister, Bertha Rodenbour; two brothers, Nick and Vincent Gergen; and a great-granddaughter, Hope Ann Ruhland.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Struble with the Rev. William A. McCarthy presiding. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call anytime after 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Struble. A combined rosary by the Rosary-Altar Society and Christian Mothers, will be held at 4 p.m. and a Scriptural wake service at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening at the church.

Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars is in charge of arrangements.