Dorothy Rueger

Dorothy Rueger, age 97, of Ripon, WI was called to Christ’s kingdom on Friday, November 8, 2024.

God the Holy Spirit filled our mom’s heart with faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She now sees him face to face. What joy she must have! She shared that love her whole life in both her speech and her actions. She and Dad raised us knowing Christ. She was a great wife and mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother sharing Christ with us all. That is her most important contribution!

Dorothy was born at home in Clintonville, WI, on August 17, 1927. She was the oldest of 4 children of Paul and Hertha Malotky. Mom married Walter Rueger on July 30, 1948. They lived in Palatine, IL and later in Ripon, WI.

Mom was devoted to her church, Messiah Lutheran in Ripon. She played organ for 43 years, accompanied choir, and was involved with the Ladies Guild until she moved to Iowa in summer of 2024. Mom worked with Dad in the Archers Den, making arrows and more. She was a homemaker in the truest sense of the word. She loved to be outside and see the animals and birds of all kinds and fed them well. Gardening was a serious hobby of hers with beautiful flowers everywhere. The whole extended family has beautiful knit and crocheted afghans that she made even up until the day before her death. Word puzzles also kept her busy in later years.

Mom died peacefully in Hubbard, Iowa at her son and daughter-in-law’s, Rev. Matt and Dana’s home with all kinds of family around. She was waiting for Jesus to come and get her and He did! We now wait for the resurrection of all the dead when we will meet again.

Mom is survived by two sons, Reverend Matt (Dana) Rueger of Hubbard, IA and Tim (Sandi) Rueger of Columbia City, IN; two daughters, Chris (Horst) Rentmeister of Ripon and Dianne (Tom) Moellering of New Haven, IN; 14 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Visitation for Dorothy will be held from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Friday, November 15, 2024 at Messiah Lutheran Church, 500 Mayparty Dr., Ripon, WI 54971, and again from 9:30 am until 10:30 am on Saturday, November 16, 2024 also at the church.

Funeral service for Dorothy will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Ripon, with Rev. Bryan Fritsch officiating. You may view a livestream of the service at 10:30 am by visiting Facebook.com/MessiahRipon/. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, Ripon. Memorials in Dorothy’s name may be directed to Messiah Lutheran Church, 500 Mayparty Dr., Ripon, WI 54971, or St. John’s Lutheran Church, 124 S. Iowa St., Hubbard, IA 50122.