Obit: Rued, Stephen Irving (1927 - 2012)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt

Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Beach, Himes, Hoffman, Hurst, Johnson, Koop, Nolt, Rendell, Rued, Waller, Whitney, Zajicek, Zimmerman

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 04/19/2012

Rued, Stephen Irving (24 JAN 1927 - 13 APR 2012)

Stephen Irving Rued, age 85, of Curtiss, passed away on Friday, April 13, 2012, at Memorial Nursing and Rehab Center in Medford from complications of Parkinson's disease.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday, April 18 at the Withee Methodist Church in Withee.

Officiating was Pastor Sally Rendell. Burial was in Saint Paul's Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery in the Town of Hoard. Pallbearers were George Waller, Les Himes, James Zajicek, Paul Nolt, Ivan Hurst and John David Zimmerman Sr.

Stephen was born on January 24, 1927 in Chippewa Falls, the eldest of six children, to Paul and Marion (Beach) Rued. His early years were spent in the Interwald area, and he received his education at Rib Lake area schools and was a 1945 graduate of Rib Lake High School.

He entered the United States Army, serving his country overseas in the Philippine Islands, after high school, as a small arms mechanic and a guard. Following his honorable discharge, he lived for a while with his family, who had moved to Big Lake, Minn.

When the chance to farm the place that his grandfather Rued made in the Town of Hoard, after he came from his homeland of Norway. Steve accepted it and made it his lifetime occupation. Stephen married the former Lois Audrey Hoffman on December 6, 1957 in the Western Home Chapel in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where Lois was the second cook. Together they had one son, Alan David. Stephen worked and lived on the farm until August 2011 when he entered the nursing home due to ill health.

Other than farming, Steve's main interest in life was serving his Lord through service in his church. He became a lay speaker, and he served on many boards and committees, the last one being the District Council on Ministries. As long as his health permitted, he enjoyed deer hunting, reading inspirational material and visiting with family and friends whenever possible.

Stephen is survived by his wife, Lois of Curtiss; his son, Alan Rued of Curtiss; sisters and brothers, Pauline Koop of Skokie, Ill., Keith (Theresa) Rued of Rochester, N.Y., David (Ardella) Rued of Aitkin, Minn., Cynthia (Paul) Whitney of Cambridge, Minn. and Randine (Richard) Johnson of Holland, Mich.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Stephen is preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law, Julius Koop; nephew, Jonathan Whitney; and niece, Mary Anne Hoffman.

The Maurina Schilling Funeral Home in Owen is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. Friends may send online condolences to www.maurinaschillingfuneralhome.com.

The family would like to thank the staff of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice and Memorial Nursing Home for the care Stephen received during the final days of his life.