Posted on 03/31/2020
William "Bill" P. Ruhnke (October 25, 1941 - March 27, 2020)
William “Bill” Paul Ruhnke died Friday (March 27) afternoon doing what he loved, mowing lawn. Bill was born 25 October 1941 in Eldora, Iowa to Herbert Frederick and Louise Wilhelmina (Ziesman) Ruhnke. He was a farmboy, attending country school during his elementary years. (Walking 5 miles both ways up hill in the snow – really, he did. He showed us the path he walked.) Bill graduated from Eldora High School, class of 1959 before starting at the U.S. Naval Academy.
He met Laura Lea Cable at the tender age of 5, they married 7 February 1960, and just celebrated their 60th anniversary. They first lived in Eldora, moving to Des Moines, before finally moving to Florissant, MO in 1964.
Bill worked for Northrup King, then the Home Insurance Company, Countrywide Services, IMI, and lastly Specialty Claims Management before retiring. Bill loved to travel, especially family vacations. In retirement, Bill pestered Laura, gardened, read, did Sudoku, and after years of refusing a cat or dog to his children, adopted cats.
Bill and Laura had two children, daughter Charm Naomi and son Christopher Thomas.
Bill is survived by his wife Laura, their children, grandchild Daniel Christopher Ruhnke, sister Mary (Marlyn) Peet, sisters-in-law Ann (Richard) Roll and Neva (Stan) Granzow, nieces and nephews, numerous cousins, and Tuffy his cat.
Hutchens Mortuary & Cremation Center
675 Graham Rd.
Florissant, MO 63031
314-596-9044
https://hutchensfuneralhomes.com/obituary/william-bill-p-ruhnke/