Dean "Joe" Joseph Carruthers

Dean Joseph "Joe" Carruthers, 84, of Ashland, passed away Friday, December 13, 2019 at Wasen Rehabilitation Center in Brethren Care Village with his wife and daughter by his side. Joe was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 14, 1935 to Frank and Constance "Gusty" Carruthers.

He was born and raised in Detroit, where he became a star athlete at Western High School, earning all state honors in both football and baseball. He was later inducted into the Western High School Hall of Fame. He received a football scholarship to attend Michigan State University, and became a Spartan for Life. He played on two National Championship teams, and played on two winning Rose Bowl Teams during his career. He went on to play several years of professional football in the Canadian Football League, before deciding that coaching and teaching young men was his true calling. He coached at St. Ambrose High School, where he won a State Championship and was named "Coach of the Year". He then became the principal and head football coach at Grosse Point North, before accepting the offensive line-coaching job at his Alma Mater, Michigan State University.

After his coaching career ended, he worked as a sporting goods representative until his retirement. Following his retirement, he traded his passion for football into a love of golf, hitting thousands of buckets of balls, playing every course he could in Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida and the Robert Trent Jones Tour. He made the trip of a lifetime to St. Andrews in Scotland where he was so determined to play, he went out in a torrential rain storm.

He served as the President of the Ashland County Club, was a member of the U Club, and was a lifetime member of the Michigan State University Varsity Athlete Club.

Joe was a teammate, coach, teacher, husband, father, son, brother, grandfather, uncle, but most importantly he was an incredible person. He was a man of integrity, honesty, and high moral character. He was a true gentleman, a dapper dresser, and a devout Catholic. He believed in being firm but fair. He was compassionate and loving not only to his family, but also to everyone he met. He touched the lives of so many with his clever wit, great stories and sense of humor-winning the "Oil Can Award" at Michigan State University for the funniest player on the team. He will be remembered for his many words of wisdom, "Don't tell ME, Show ME", the advice he shared with everyone and the love he had for his family. He acquired a taste for fine bourbon, wonderful desserts, and gave BIG bear hugs.

He leaves behind, his loving wife Suzanne; daughter, Kimberly (Daniel); sons, Michael (Michele), Jack (Annie), Kirk (Kerry), Doug (Deb) Donelson and Chad (Kerri) Donelson. He was "Papa Joe" to grandchildren, Dash (Racquel) Dudley, Deana, Drew, Darby (William) Stein, Mariah, Michael, Hanna, Ethan, Jake and Jayden. He also leaves behind his sisters, Mary Ellen (Joe) Slivinski, Constance Carruthers and his brother, Robert (Dorothy) Carruthers. Joe will also be missed by his many loving nieces, nephews, teammates, players and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Constance "Gusty" Carruthers, his brother, Donald (Catherine) Carruthers, and his best friend, Jim (Mary Kay) Wulff.

He attended St. Edward's Catholic Church in Ashland, where a funeral mass will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 11:00 a.m., with a visitation to begin at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Joe's favorite charities: St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or the Wounded Warriors Project. You may also contribute to Hospice of North Central Ohio or a charity of your choice.

The Ashland Home of Wappner Funeral Directors is honored to serve the family of Joe Carruthers.