Donald William Ruehmann

Don was born on December 13, 1928, to William L. Ruehmann and Elizabeth (Walter) Ruehmann. Don was born a cubs fan and remained one throughout his life. As a boy he attended many games- usually on Ladies day with his mother. He was a loyal boy scout as a boy and continued as a scout leader as an adult. He graduated from Chicago Technical Institute with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Don was drafted into the Army in 1950 and was stationed in Benicia, California at The Benicia Arsenal. After discharge in 1952, he was in the Army Reserves until 1956.

When he returned from California in 1952, he met the love of his life, Judith (Judy) Liane Larsen, they were married on May 1, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois. In Chicago Don worked for Foote Brothers. Shortly after their marriage, Don and Judy moved to Bloomington, Illinois when he got a job at Eureka Williams. There they had two daughters, Kathryn Kay (1956) and Carla Ann (1959). In 1968, Don moved the family to Fort Collins, Colorado, when he got a job at teledyne Water Pik. Where he remained employed until his retirement in 1992.After retirement, Don and Judy moved to Fountain Hills, Arizona and then later to Leisure World in Mesa, Arizona. After 60 years of marriage, Judy passed away in 2014. Don was very lonely without her, but in 2018, providence stepped in and he met Joyce Doelger, who became his second wife in faith and remained by his side until his death.

Throughout his life, Don was a member of the Boy Scout, the NRA, the Sunrise Kiwanis of Fountain Hills, and was a founding member of the No-Name Club in Chicago, He was an active member of Gilbert Presbyterian Church. He drove for the Red Cross for many years after retirement. Don also enjoyed woodworking, music and dancing. Throughout his life he loved to take family and friends on trips around the country, including Alaska and Canada. A civil was buff, he traveled to several of the Civil War battlefields in the eastern part of the country. He loved to hike, He hiked the Grand Canyon and the Havasupai Canyon more than once. As a young man he worked as a ranch hand during WWII on his father’s cousin’s ranch in Western Nebraska. There he discovered that he was really a cowboy. After his retirement, Don found his passion in cowboy action shooting, with an “alias” of “Lavender.”

Donald was preceded in death by his parents William and Elizabeth and his wife Judith. He is survived by his children, Kathryn Sharp (Michael Sharp), Carla Panosh (Her partner; Steve Cournoyr), granddaughter Rachel Weaver (Daniel Weaver), his faith wife Joyce Doelger and her family.

A Memorial service will be held in his honor at Gilbert Presbyterian Church at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please send donation to Compassion International at Compassion.Com.

As you ride off into the sunset, you will be so dearly missed!