Donald J. Ruelle

Donald J. Ruelle, age 70, of Bryan, Ohio, died at 6:27 P.M. on Sunday, October 16, 2011, shortly after admittance to Community Hospitals and Wellness Centers in Bryan. Mr. Ruelle was a graduate of St. Catherine’s High School in Racine, Wisconsin. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and his Master’s in Business Administration from Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee. Don’s work career began with S.C. Johnson Wax Company in Racine and later took him to the plant in Cookeville, Tennessee, where he served as a financial officer and plant manager. He came to Bryan and joined the Anderson-Vreeland Company, working as lab manager, and later worked for Gendron in human resources and sales. In his retirement he worked part-time as a toll collector on the Ohio Turnpike. Known as an avid home remodeler, his most notable project was the “Castle” he built in Norlick Place. His love for music was well known in the area, where he was a tuba player with the Bryan City Band, the Defiance College Community Band and with the Rube Band. He was also a veteran of the United States Navy, where he attended the Naval School of Music. Don’s memberships include St. Patrick Catholic Church in Bryan and the Knights of Columbus, of which he was treasurer, and he was an avid Notre Dame and Green Bay Packer fan. Donald J. Ruelle was born on August 14, 1941, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the son of Earl and Otillia (Gedemer) Ruelle. He married Judith A. Beres on August 3, 1963, in Racine and she survives. Also surviving are four children, Russell (Susan) Ruelle, of Kohler, Wisconsin, Ronald (Belinda) Ruelle, of Boulder, Colorado, Renee (John) Gordon, of Birmingham, Alabama, and Richard (Shannon) Ruelle, of Orange, California; five grandchildren, Katherine Ruelle, Julia Ruelle, Lillian Ruelle, Max Gordon and Miles Gordon; and one brother, Keith (Judy) Ruelle, of Racine. He was preceded in death by his parents, a granddaughter, Emily Ruelle, and one sister, Mary Jean Anderson. Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 20, 2011, from 5:00-8:00 P.M. in the Krill Funeral Home, 860 West Mulberry Street, Bryan. Services will be held on Friday, October 21, 2011, at 10:30 A.M. in St. Patrick Catholic Church in Bryan with Father James Halleron officiating. Memorials are requested to St. Patrick Church in Bryan, the Bryan City Band, The TTU Foundation/Tuba Ensemble Foundation at Tennessee Tech University, Campus Box 1915, Cookeville, Tennessee 38505, or to St. Catherine’s High School, 1200 Park Avenue, Racine, Wisconsin 53403.