Ken Ruge

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ken Ruge, 73, of Roscoe, IL on January 2, 2025. We are rejoicing through our sadness that he has passed into eternal life with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and we delight in the knowledge that we will see him again in glory.

Ken married his high school sweetheart Melody in 1971 and was a wonderful father to Chris (Emily) Ruge and Shelli (Caleb) Worgess, and adored grandfather (Pappy) to Caleb, Abigail, and Aiden Worgess and Faith Ruge.

He was born in Gary, IN in 1951 and grew up surrounded by many cousins in Liberty Township, IN. He graduated from Liberty Township High School and Tri-State College with a degree in Math Education. Ken had a number of careers, starting as a high school Math Teacher then moving into the family business – Ruge & Sons Meats. His next career was selling spices, which moved him and his family to Roscoe, IL and then Baraboo, WI where he became National Sales Manager. After 13 years on the road, Ken and Melody moved back to Roscoe to open a Culver’s franchise – the first Culver’s in the state of IL. In 2006, he and Melody sold the restaurants and their home, bought a motorhome, and volunteered for a number of service and missions organizations, ultimately landing with Wycliffe Associates (WA). This volunteer time took them all over the US as well as to South America and twice to Africa. They made many good friends at WA and enjoyed traveling and motorcycling with them.

Ken was a jack-of-all-trades and enjoyed helping people with just about anything. If someone needed a tree cut down or a hot water heater replaced, he was the guy. He enjoyed woodworking and built many pieces of furniture for his and his childrens’ homes.

He also had a wonderful bass voice and enjoyed many years of singing in choirs and quartets in both Baraboo, WI and Roscoe, IL. He taught his children how to harmonize and read music using hymnals, and they both enjoyed singing with him in church.

Ken is preceded in death by his mother and father, Mary Jane (Varner) and Richard H. Ruge, and his father-in-law George Edward Weyant. He is survived by his immediate family listed above as well as his brother Rick (Peggy) Ruge, mother-in-law Evelyn Weyant, sister-in-law Kerry (Rich) Villarreal, and nieces Jennifer and Janelle Ruge and Marissa (Connor) Villarreal-Smith. He also leaves behind many former Culver’s employees who he thought of as his own kids.

Visitation will be Saturday, January 11th from 9:00 am to 10:50 am at Hope Church, 5656 Elevator Road, Roscoe, IL 61073, with a Memorial Ceremony following at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Helping Hands ministry at Hope Church – a ministry that trains disciples in worshipping God through serving other’s physical needs which Ken helped organize and coordinated until he passed. Gifts to Helping Hands can be made at https://hefc.churchcenter.com/giving/to/benevolence-fund.

Ken will be greatly missed by so many who knew him and were impacted by his leadership, service, and care over his lifetime. May his memory be a blessing to you, and may you be inspired to serve others to the Glory of God just as Ken did.