Tanner Benjamin RUBERG

RUBERG, MARKMAN, SCHADE, BROCK

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/25/2010 at 12:10:34

January 25, 2010
Fort Dodge Messenger, Iowa

HUMBOLDT - Tanner Ruberg, 17, of Hardy, died January 21, 2010 at Blank Hospital in Des Moines as the result of a snowmobile accident. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Zion Lutheran Church in Humboldt. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Church. The Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home of Humboldt is assisting the family.

Tanner is survived by his mom and dad, Deb and Lonnie Ruberg of Hardy; sister Cassie (Matt Markman) Ruberg of Sioux Falls, SD; grandparents, Joyce and Warren Ruberg of Clarion, Sandi Schade of Thor, and John and Linda Schade of Hardy; and special friend Miranda Brock. He was preceded in death by his uncle Mikey Ruberg.

Tanner Benjamin Ruberg, the son of Lonnie and Deb (Schade) Ruberg, was born January 12, 1993 at Humboldt. He attended elementary and middle school in Humboldt and was in his junior year at Humboldt High School. Tanner enjoyed participating in sports starting with T-ball at the age of three and flag football. He enjoyed being a Wildcat and participated in football, basketball, baseball, track, and wrote for the Cat Chronicles school newspaper in High School. He also had a great time hunting, fishing, and playing basketball in Hardy with his 545 buddies. He had fun on his crotch rocket and with his X-Box, he bought every new version of Air Jordan's, and took pride in his Grand Prix. He loved spending time with his nephews, Austin and Samuel and Saturday nights were spent with Miranda watching movies. He was loved and will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

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Fort Dodge Messenger, Iowa
January 22, 2010

Snowmobile accident kills Hardy teen

Tanner Ruberg, 17, struck a cable in Humboldt, authorities say

By ANGELA BURCH, Messenger staff writer

HUMBOLDT - A Hardy teen died Thursday morning as a result of a snowmobile accident that happened Wednesday night in Humboldt.

Tanner Ruberg, 17, was riding snowmobiles with two friends at about 7:15 p.m. Wednesday when his snowmobile struck a cable that knocked him from the vehicle, according to the Humboldt Police Department. The Police Department initially said Ruberg was possibly trying to go around a telephone pole along 215th Street in Humboldt when he hit a guy wire cable that knocked him off the snowmobile. Ruberg was transported to Humboldt County Memorial Hospital by ambulance, then transferred to Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge, according to the Police Department. The Iowa State Patrol is conducting the investigation with help from the Humboldt Police Department and the Humboldt County Sheriff's Department.

Although school was closed Thursday, Humboldt Community School District Superintendent Greg Darling said there were counselors at the school to meet with students. Counselors will be at the school today as well, he said. Ruberg, a junior at Humboldt High School, was involved with football, baseball, track, basketball and wrote for the school newspaper, The Cat Chronicles, according to Humboldt High School Principal Lori Westhoff. He was the third leading rusher on the football team and was a co-leader with four rushing touchdowns the past season, according to online statistics.

"He had a great sense of humor and will be missed very much," Westhoff said. "Our kids will be great, they will step up and support each other. We'll gather around and help each other through this."

Cortney Olson said she had nothing but good to remember about Ruberg, who was her second cousin.
"(He) always had a smile on his face and worked hard for everything, especially his athletics," Olson said. "He was outgoing and an awesome kid to be with. He could always make someone laugh, no matter how down they were ... Tanner was one of those kids I wish everyone had gotten to meet because he was that great."

This is the second death in the Ruberg family in less than two years. Ruberg's uncle, Michael Ruberg, 41, was killed in April of 2008 after a fight in Humboldt County. Funeral arrangements for Tanner Ruberg are being handled by the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt.