Joseph Franklin Ruckert, Sr.,age 83 of Freedom, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 25, 2018. Loving husband of sixty-two years to Rose E. (Cox) Ruckert; devoted father of Luther T., Joseph F., Jr., (Jenny), George A. (Dianne), Becky L., Carol A. Kruise (Robert) and Jeffrey D. Ruckert; proud Pap of thirteen grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren; brother of Charles, Betty Pasco, Ruth Miller, Roy, Harvey, Darla Gatz, and Margie Barrett; preceded in death by his siblings; Lettie Boring and Shirley Morrison. Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Family and friends will be received on Thursday, June 28, 2018 from 2-4 & 6-8 PM at the Saul-Gabauer Funeral Home, Inc., 273 Route 68, Rochester, PA 15074, where services will be held on Friday, June 29, 2018 at 11 AM. Joe was retired from LTV/J&L Steel and McKees Rocks Forging where he had worked as a welder. He had a special love for playing the guitar and hunting, fishing, camping, all with his wonderful, loving family. In lieu of flowers, family suggests memorial donations to the Lymphoma Society