Ruen, Vernon A. -- 1920 - 1999

EGGE, RUEN, DAHLEN, SHAFFER, BLEGEN, WANLESS, DOWNING

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 6/8/2010 at 20:54:59

Decorah, Iowa newspaper Public Opinion, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 1999.

Vernon Ruen

Vernon Ruen, 79, of Decorah, died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at home after a lengthy illness with cancer.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Dec. 11, at 1:30 p.m., at Decorah Lutheran Church, with the Revs. Ole Winter, Tim Tostengard and Allen Hermeier officiating.

Diane Kvamme was the organist. Wayne Mitchell sang "On Eagles' Wings" and "The Wind Beneath My Wings." The congregation sang "How Great Thou Art," "Borning Cry," "I Know of a Sleep in Jesus Name" and "Children of the Heavenly Father."

Casket bearers were R. Daniel Wilkes, John Shaffer, Tim Roman, Jim Priest, Allan Dahlen, Arnie Dahlen Jr., Robert Ruen and Ronald Ruen.

Interment was at the Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah. The French & Balik Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Vernon Arthur Ruen was born Oct. 2, 1920, in rural Decorah, the son of
Olaus and Amanda (Egge) Ruen. He was baptized Nov. 7, 1920, and confirmed June 16, 1935, at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church, rural Decorah.

He attended the Lee country school and Decorah High School for one year. During this time he worked on the family farm.

On Oct. 5, 1946, he was married to Lila Mae Dahlen at the Decorah Lutheran parsonage by the Rev. M.A. Egge. To this union two children were born, Marilyn and V. Wayne.

In 1946 he went to the Ruppert Auctioneers School in Decatur, Ind. He was a livestock buyer, trucker and auctioneer for 53 years in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. He also was a real estate broker for Priest & Associates Realtors in Decorah and delivered flowers for the Plantpeddler in Decorah.

Vernon assisted as auctioneer with his son-in-law, Norm, for the Homeless Children's Trust for four years in Cedar Rapids. He was a member of Decorah Lutheran Church, where he served as president of the Church Council and as an usher.

He also was former president of Northeast Iowa Board of Realtors and former members of Iowa Auctioneers Association.

Vern is remembered as living for his family. They always came first. He really enjoyed his daily phone calls with Wayne. He touched many people in his lifetime in many countless ways.

Survivors include his wife, Lila, of Decorah; one daughter, Marilyn and Norm Shaffer of Cedar Rapids; one son, V. Wayne Ruen of Princeton, Illinois; one sister, Eleanor Blegen of Bismarck, N.D.; two brothers, Adolph Ruen of Waukon and Otto Ruen of Decorah; grandchildren, R. Daniel Wilkes (Teresa Christensen) of Cedar Rapids, Jessica Ruen of Princeton, Illinois, Amanda Shaffer of Cedar Rapids, Jennifer (Shaffer) and husband Tim Roman of North Liberty; and John Shaffer (Cyndi LeGrand) of Marion; one great-grandchild, Jacob Shaffer; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Arnold Dahlen Sr., of Decorah, Phyllis and Bernard Wanless of Mabel, Minn.; and Hazel and Dean Downing of Postville; and many nieces and nephews.

Vernon Ruen was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Olger and Laurence Ruen; his mother- and father-in-law, Henrietta and Alex Dahlen; sisters-in-law Sophie Ruen, Laila Ruen and Donna Dahlen; and brother-in-law Joseph Blegen.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.