----Source: Tribune-Record-Gleaner (Clark County, Wis.) 03/07/2001
 

Ruzic, Ivan Z. (1905 - 2001)

Ivan Z. Ruzic, 95, Neillsville, Clark County, died on Friday, March 2, 2001, at the Memorial Medical Center, Neillsville. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, March 5, at the Holy Family Catholic Church, Willard. The Rev. Joseph Follmar and the Rev. Joseph Henseler officiated. Burial was in the Holy Family Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers were grandsons, Michael, Ivan A., and Matthew Ruzic, Steve Martens, and great-grandsons, Shawn and Phillip Ruzic.

Ivan Z. Ruzic was born on Dec. 10, 1905, in Zabno, Croatia (Yugoslavia), to Matt and Ana (nee Butkovic) Ruzic. In 1908, they moved to Gallup, N.M., and then in 1912, they moved to Springfield, Ill., where he attended school at St. Patrick s and St. Barbara Parochial Schools. In 1919, they moved to Willard and he helped on the family farm. As a young man, he also worked in Chicago and followed the wheat harvest in North Dakota. He married Angeline Artac in June 1932. The farmed at Greenwood for nearly 30 years. She died on June 8, 1959. He was a charter member of the Greenwood Cooperative and served 27 years on the co-op's board of directors. He was also treasurer of the Slovenian Catholic Union KSKJ 136 at Willard for 20 years. He sang in the choir, often singing duets with his wife. After his marriage to Mary A. Pekol in Aug. 1961, he moved to Milwaukee, where he was a gardener for the University of Wisconsin Botany department for 10 years. They retired to Cherokee Village, Ark., in 1981. They returned to Marshfield in 1990. She died on Sept. 29, 1991. He resided at the Neillsville Memorial Nursing Home the past two years. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus and the Arkansas Lions Club. He had an intellectual curiosity. He was well versed on many subjects. He had a particular interest in what was happening on the home farm , which is still farmed by his grandson, Michael (Monica) Ruzic.

Survivors include two sons, Ivan F. (Darlene) Ruzic, Stratford, and Gary F. (JoAnn) Ruzic, Neillsville one daughter, Donna (Hilbert) Martens, Junction City 12 grandchildren 20 great-grandchildren two great-great-granddaughters three sisters, Zora Macknick, Stevens Point, Frances (Ed) Kokaly, Marshfield, and Ann Mossak, Omro and one daughter-in-law, Geraldine Ruzic, Willard.

He was preceded in death by his parents one brother, Vincent and one sister, Angela.

Memorials may be given in his name to the memorial Nursing Home, Neillsville, or the American Slovenian Catholic Union KSKJ 136 Scholarship Fund, Willard.

Gesche Funeral Home, Neillsville, assisted the family with arrangements.

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Obit: Ruzic, Ivan Z. #2 (1905- 2001)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Ruzic, Butkovic, Artac, Pekol, Martens, Macknick, Kokaly, Mossak, Lindner, Bayuk, Follmar, Henseler

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/07/2001 (Scrapbook of Agnes Mohr Hermeling)

Ruzic, Ivan Z. (10 December 1905 – 2 March 2001)

Ivan Ruzic, age 95, of Neillsville died Friday, March 2 at the Memorial Medical Center in Neillsville.

Ivan was born on Dec. 10, 1905 in Zabno, Croatia (Yugoslavia), the son of Matt and Ana (Butkovic) Ruzic. In 1908, they moved to Gallup, NM and then in 1912, they moved to Springfield, IL, where Ivan attended school at St. Patrick’s and St. Barbara Parochial Schools. In 1919, they moved to Willard and Ivan helped on his family farm.

As a young man, he also worked in Chicago and followed the wheat harvest in North Dakota.

He was united in marriage to Angeline Artac in June of 1932.

Ivan was a charter member of the Greenwood Co-op and served 27 years on the Co-op’s Board of Directors. He was also treasurer of the Slovenian Catholic Union KSKIJ #136 at Willard for 20 years. Angeline played the organ at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Willard for 22 years and they both sand in the choir, often singing duets.

He farmed with his wife at Greenwood for nearly 30 years. Angeline did on June 8, 1959.

After his marriage to Mary A. Pekol in August of 1961, he moved to Milwaukee where he was gardener for the University of Wisconsin Botany Department for 10 years. They retired to Cherokee Village, AR in 1981. They returned to Marshfield in 1990. Mary died on Sept. 29, 1991.

Ivan resided at the Neillsville Memorial Nursing Home for the past two years. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus and the Arkansas Lions Club.

He is survived by two sons, Ivan F. (Darlene) of Stratford and Gary F. (JoAnn) of Neillsville; one daughter, Donna (Hilbert) Mertens of Junction City; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-granddaughters. He is also survived by three sisters, Zora Macknick, of Stevens Point, Francis (Ed) Kokaly of Marshfield and Ann Mossak of Omro and a daughter-in-law, Geraldine Ruzic of Willard.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother Vincent and one sister, Angela.

The Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday March 5, at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Willard. The Celebrants were Joseph and Fr. Joseph Henseler. Music was provided by the church choir. Interment was in the Holy Family Cemetery. There was a Knights of Columbus Rosary Service at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville.

Casket bearers were grandsons, Michael, Ivan A. and Mathew Ruzic, Steve Martens and great-grandsons, Shawn and Phillip Ruzic.

Ivan had intellectual cur8iosity. He was well versed on many subjects. Ivan had a particular interest on wheat was happening on the “Home Farm” which is still farmed by his grandson, Michael and Monica (Lindner) Ruzic.

He will be sadly missed by his family for as his grandson, Mathew once said, “If I don’t know something, I’ll ask Grandpa.”

Memorials may be directed to the Memorial Nursing Home, 216 Sunset Place, Neillsville, WI 54456, or to the American Slovenian Catholic Union KSKJ #136, Scholarship Fund, c/o Edward Bayuk, W8623 Dove Rd., Willard, WI 54493.