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JACK RUHL

Jack was the SON of
FATHER - John Ruhl; and,
MOTHER - Lucille (Hale) Ruhl

Siblings included
(1) *BROTHER - Kenneth Ruhl
/ deceased
(2) *BROTHER - Richard 'Dick' Ruhl
/ deceased
(3) *SISTER - Thelma (Ruhl) McDaniel
/ deceased
(4) *SISTER - Dorothy (Ruhl) Bennett
/ deceased

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Jack moved from Oklahoma to
Kansas to attend Wichita
University in 1939. While in
church there, he met his future
wife.

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Jack was HUSBAND to
WIFE - Ruth Ruhl

They were wed on
Oct 14, 1945
(The couple had dated &
been together for 70 years;
married for 63 years!)

He was FATHER to:
*SON - Robert J. Ruhl
/ (KIA - Vietnam 1968)
*SON - Jeff Ruhl
*SON - Chris Ruhl
*DAUGHTER - Julie (Ruhl) Jones

He was a GRANDFATHER to
four children
(1) GRANDDAUGHTER - Christy
(2) GRANDDAUGHTER - Elizabeth
(3) GRANDDAUGHTER - Emily
(4) GRANDSON - Andy

He was GREAT-GRANDFATHER to
four children
(1) Logan
(2) Peyton
(3) Autumn
(4) Landon Jack

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J.R. (89 years old)
was an outstanding
Husband and Father.

He was a good man.

(Jack would have been honored
to have known others - besides
his family - would remember
and record his story here.)

When Jack Ruhl died,
the news made the
'FRONT PAGE' of his
hometown paper,
THE JOPLIN GLOBE.
(The headline ran the
entire width of the page!)

Then, the entire
Sunday Editoral was alllll
about Jack Ruhl, who was
a hero amongst us!

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Jack Ruhl was a very
handsome gentleman.
His youthful hair had
more waves than
the ocean. He sported
a dashing mustache, was
quick to smile and
was very kind-hearted.

Jack always wore a
'signature piece of jewelry'
- a small, delicate cameo
stick pin from the 1800s.
It was worn below
the knot on his necktie.
'Jack' was simply not
'Jack' without that
heirloom cameo!
(It had been his Uncle's
and he inherited it - and
considered it one of his
prized possessions.)

********************

Jack was a brave and
gallant warrior during
World War II.
He would say he 'was just
a soldier.'
He was a member of:
The 531st ENGINEER
SHORE REGIMENT, 1st
Engineer Special Brigade.

This list (below) is a
breath-taking, amazing
story...
Jack Ruhl participated in:
* D-Day SICILY
* D-Day ITALY
* D-Day AFRICA
* D-Day EUROPE

He said 6-6-1944 was:
'The Greatest Show On Earth'!
During that fateful day,
Jack Ruhl landed with his
fellow soldiers on UTAH BEACH.

Ruhl's outfit cleared mines,
set up landing signals and
laid rows of beach matting so
vehicles wouldn't sink in the
sand. Jack survived multiple
occasions (during these invasions),
where the men around him were shot,
gravely wounded or killed - and
Jack survived and prevailed.
(*GOD had 'other plans' for him.)

Jack Ruhl spent 19 1/2 months
straight in combat in WWII.

One of the greatest sorrows of
Mr. Ruhl's life was the loss of
his namesake / eldest son, Bob.
(He volunteered for service in
Vietnam, inspired by Father's
military service). He was killed
2 days after his 20th birthday,
(having endured 4 months of war).

********************

Jack was the manager
of a shoe store at
EASTMORELAND PLAZA,
in Joplin, Missouri.
There, he also was the
Pres. of the shopping
center's business
association.

Then, J.R. was employed
for 32 years
at NEWTON JEWELRY
in downtown Joplin, Mo.
Jack charmed the sale of
many a Rolex and multi-
carat diamond ring!
He became a 'fixture' on
Main St. and beloved by
customers, his employer
and even the nearby-shop-
keepers.

*******************

Jack was the former Pres. of
THE JOPLIN HUMANE SOCIETY.
He was awarded their highest
honor. Jack was not just
interested in protecting
domestic animals, but even the
wild animals of the forest. He
was known to feed all critters
that ventured onto his lawn.

******************

Jack Ruhl was a long time,
faithful member of
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH;
Later, he attended
CENTRAL ASSEMBLY OF GOD;
Finally, he was a member at
FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH
where he served as 'A DOOR
GREETER'.

Jack Ruhl was a Christian.

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Days after Jack's funeral,
an 'EVIL' person broke into
the Ruhl family home and
stole the Ruhl's family's
wedding rings along with
other keepsakes. This sad
action destroyed the
'inner security' of the
family, knowing their home
had been invaded and the
touchstones to their family
had been taken...

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** MEMORIAL WORDS **

"Future years will never know
the seething hell and the
black infernal background,
the countless minor scenes
and interiors...of war;
and it is best they should
not.
The real war will never
get in books"

- WALT WHITMAN
(poet/Civil War nurse)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The purpose of ALL WAR
is ultimately PEACE."
-- SAINT AUGUSTINE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Have we not all one Father?
Did not one GOD create us?"
THE HOLY BIBLE
Malachi 2:10

"For dust you are and
to dust you will return."
THE HOLY BIBLE
Genesis 3:19

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This biography is
humbly presented by
Audrey Burtrum-Stanley / Arkansas

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