James Edward Ruecke age 90, of Auburn Hills, passed away Tuesday, September 8, 2020. Jim was born the son of Elmer and Gertrude (Woerner) Ruecke on May 24, 1930, in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Rocky River High School, class of 1948, and took up active duty in the United States Army during the Korean War. Jim earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Case Western Reserve College in Ohio. Jim married Carol Fielding on August 17, 1957 and they raised their family in Rocky River, Ohio and Troy, Michigan. Jim had a career working as a chemist first for Glidden and Sherwin Williams, and later for Wyandotte Coatings (now Akzo). He retired in 1995 and moved to the Knoxville, Tennessee area where he and Carol enjoyed hiking in the Smokey Mountains with their children and grandchildren and returned to Michigan to be closer to family in 2005.
He enjoyed sailboat racing in his early years. Woodworking was a skill and hobby Jim loved and learned from his father, who was a shop teacher and master carpenter. He also loved baking and brewing beer, weighing (not measuring) and mixing his ingredients for just the right taste. Jim was a member of the Crown of Life Lutheran Church in Rochester.
Jim is survived by his loving wife Carol; children Lea Ann (Paul) Losin, Kurt (Julie) Ruecke; and grandchildren Kiersten Ruecke, Michael McMillan, and step-grandchildren Mitchell Hart, Jane (Losin) Williams, and Jake Losin. He was predeceased by his parents; sister Dorothy Janda; and loving stepmother Dodie Ruecke.
Jim’s family invites everyone to a visitation on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Pixley Funeral Home, located at 3530 Auburn Rd, in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Jim will lie in state from 10:00 a.m. until the time of funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 16, at Crown of Life Lutheran Church at 2975 Dutton Rd, Rochester, MI 48306. Burial will follow at Roseland Park Cemetery 29001 Woodward Ave, Berkley, MI 48072. Memorial contributions may be made in Jim’s honor to The American Cancer Society online at www.cancer.org.
