1958
Brian
2014
Brian James Ruska
March 22, 1958 — May 20, 2014
Rumely
Brian James Ruska, 56, passed away Tuesday afternoon, May 20, 2014 at his home in Rumely after a valiant fight with cancer. He was surrounded by his family and under the loving care of North Woods Home Health and Hospice. Brian was born on March 22, 1958 in Munising, Michigan to Oscar and Eva (Tweedale) Ruska, the youngest of their ten children. He grew up in Chatham and graduated from Eben High School in 1976 and the Jacobetti Skill Center in 1980. Brian married Lynn Haapala on January 12, 1980 and they had a son Eric. He was employed by the Munising Building Center, Timber Products and most recently the Chatham Co-op. Brian enjoyed working at the Building Center and the Co-op and always went the extra mile to take care of people. In his free time, he loved to watch and play sports. He was a die-hard Tigers, Red Wings, Packers, Pistons and University of Michigan football and basketball fan. A fierce competitor, he played fast pitch softball and alumni basketball for many years and was a cornerstone on those teams. He also loved to golf and bowl. Brian was a lifelong outdoorsman who lived for deer season and spending time out in the woods and at the "old farm," as well as fishing with his son. He was a devoted husband, father, son, brother and friend to many. Brian will be missed.
He is survived by his wife Lynn and son Eric of Rumely; mother - Eva of Munising; brothers - Leroy (Karen) of Trenary, Bruce (Mary) of Brandon, WI, Dale of Munising and Duane of Marquette; sisters - Dorothey (Wayne) St. Pierre of Escanaba and Ina Corradino of Iron Mountain; brothers-and sister-in-law - Harvey Edminster of West Allis, WI and John Accomando of Cudahy, WI and Cindy (Gary) Kallio of Rumely; father and mother-in-law - Kenneth and JoAnn Haapala of Shelter Bay; ; numerous nieces and nephews; adopted brother and sister Robert and Terri Bannasch of Eben; and close friends Doug Scheuneman and Lance Seppi. Brian was preceded in death by his father Oscar and sisters Mary Lou, Patricia and Deanna.
Services will be held at the Sion Lutheran Church in Chatham on Saturday, May 31, 2014. Visiting time with family and friends will be from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Pastor Paul Kelto will conduct Brian's memorial service at noon.
The family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers and support they received from too many people to name individually, but include Robert Bannasch who remained by Brian's side until the end, Julie Diesenroth, Pastor Paul Kelto, fellow cancer survivors and those that continue to fight, the amazing nurses at the Marquette Hematology/Oncology Office and the compassionate doctors and nurses who cared for Brian during his battle with cancer. Thank you for guiding us through these difficult times.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Brian's name can be made to Northwoods Home Health and Hospice, Sion Lutheran Church or Superior Central Booster Club.
Brian James Ruska, 56, passed away Tuesday afternoon, May 20, 2014 at his home in Rumely after a valiant fight with cancer. He was surrounded by his family and under the loving care of North Woods Home Health and Hospice. Brian was born on March 22, 1958 in Munising, Michigan to Oscar and Eva (Tweedale) Ruska, the youngest of their ten children. He grew up in Chatham and graduated from Eben High School in 1976 and the Jacobetti Skill Center in 1980. Brian married Lynn Haapala on January 12, 1980 and they had a son Eric. He was employed by the Munising Building Center, Timber Products and most recently the Chatham Co-op. Brian enjoyed working at the Building Center and the Co-op and always went the extra mile to take care of people. In his free time, he loved to watch and play sports. He was a die-hard Tigers, Red Wings, Packers, Pistons and University of Michigan football and basketball fan. A fierce competitor, he played fast pitch softball and alumni basketball for many years and was a cornerstone on those teams. He also loved to golf and bowl. Brian was a lifelong outdoorsman who lived for deer season and spending time out in the woods and at the "old farm," as well as fishing with his son. He was a devoted husband, father, son, brother and friend to many. Brian will be missed.
He is survived by his wife Lynn and son Eric of Rumely; mother - Eva of Munising; brothers - Leroy (Karen) of Trenary, Bruce (Mary) of Brandon, WI, Dale of Munising and Duane of Marquette; sisters - Dorothey (Wayne) St. Pierre of Escanaba and Ina Corradino of Iron Mountain; brothers-and sister-in-law - Harvey Edminster of West Allis, WI and John Accomando of Cudahy, WI and Cindy (Gary) Kallio of Rumely; father and mother-in-law - Kenneth and JoAnn Haapala of Shelter Bay; ; numerous nieces and nephews; adopted brother and sister Robert and Terri Bannasch of Eben; and close friends Doug Scheuneman and Lance Seppi. Brian was preceded in death by his father Oscar and sisters Mary Lou, Patricia and Deanna.
Services will be held at the Sion Lutheran Church in Chatham on Saturday, May 31, 2014. Visiting time with family and friends will be from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Pastor Paul Kelto will conduct Brian's memorial service at noon.
The family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers and support they received from too many people to name individually, but include Robert Bannasch who remained by Brian's side until the end, Julie Diesenroth, Pastor Paul Kelto, fellow cancer survivors and those that continue to fight, the amazing nurses at the Marquette Hematology/Oncology Office and the compassionate doctors and nurses who cared for Brian during his battle with cancer. Thank you for guiding us through these difficult times.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Brian's name can be made to Northwoods Home Health and Hospice, Sion Lutheran Church or Superior Central Booster Club.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Brian James Ruska, please visit our flower store.