Rue, Loren Richard 1917-2010
RUE, BREKKE, HOVDEN, ANDERSON, BIRK, JACOBSMEYER, ASCHIM, NELSON, DEWEY
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/25/2012 at 14:43:09
Loren R. Rue, age 92, of Ridgeway, IA, died Thursday, April 22, 2010 at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, April 29, 2010 at Peace Lutheran Church in Ridgeway, IA by Rev. Phil Olson and Rev. Ginny Olson. Burial will be in Lincoln Cemetery in rural Ridgeway.
Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 P.M. Wednesday, April 28 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and on Thursday one hour before the service at the church.
Loren Richard Rue was born at his parents’ home on December 26, 1917 in Ridgeway, Iowa to Ole and Olena (Brekke) Rue. He was the fourth of seven children. Loren was baptized and confirmed in the Lincoln Lutheran Church by Pastor D.C. Jordahl. Loren attended school in Ridgeway and graduated from there in 1936. He participated in sports, played in the band and was in the school plays. After graduating from Ridgeway High School, Loren attended Luther College for one year. He then attended Wisconsin Business College in La Crosse, Wisconsin and graduated at the top of his class in 1939.
Loren enlisted in the Air Force in 1942 and was soon called to active duty as an aviation cadet. He received his pilot wings on Jan 7, 1944 and was assigned to Perrin Field in Sherman, Texas where he served as a flight instructor. Loren was separated from active duty and transferred to the Air Force Reserve December 31, 1946. He was promoted to the rank of Captain on May 25, 1950. Loren served in the Reserve until May 25, 1974. He always had an interest in planes and at the age of 82, with an instructor by his side, he once again took the controls and flew an airplane from the Decorah airport to Ridgeway, where he buzzed the family home … the knack of flying came back quickly!
Loren was united in marriage to Amy Harriet Hovden on January 12, 1944 at the Madison Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, Iowa. This union was blessed with three children: Sally Jane, Marsha Faye and Richard Loren.
Loren operated Ridgeway Lumber for many years. He served on the Winneshiek County Conservation Board for 45 years, setting a record as the longest serving member of a county conservation board in the state of Iowa. While at the Conservation Board, he saw the beginning of the Prairie Farmers Trail. Loren also served on the church council, city council and the Ridgeway school board. He was also a volunteer fireman for Ridgeway.
Loren loved to fish and spent many days fishing on the Mississippi River and on the lakes of Minnesota and Michigan. Many memories were made with this pastime with his family and especially his son, Richard. Loren was a great tease and his laugh was infectious. He was quite the “songbird” and would often break out singing. We all enjoyed his personal rendition of Happy Birthday greetings.
Loren was preceded in death by his parents: Ole and Olena Rue; his son, Richard on December 8, 2007; his brother, Malcolm; his sister, Helen Anderson; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Loren is survived by his wife Amy; his two daughters: Sally (Marty) Birk of Pleasanton, CA and Marsha (Hugo) Jacobsmeyer of Boise, ID; six grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; his three sisters: Irene Aschim of Decorah, IA, Betty Nelson of Plano, TX, Lila Dewey of St. Louis, MO; his brother, Roger (Anna) Rue of St. Louis, MO; sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
We would like to thank the many friends, doctors and nurses at the various facilities who have given such compassionate care to Loren throughout these many years. You are greatly appreciated.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
Lincoln Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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