James A. Ruhge

James Allen Ruhge was born in Ashland, Nebraska on February 4, 1940. His
parents were Quentin Ruhge and Marian “Ardyce” (Buckingham) Ruhge Buck. His stepfather was Donald E. Buck.

Jim is survived by his wife, Janice A. (Dill) Ruhge of 53 years of marriage;
his daughters, Jill Ruhge McCormick (Greg Divis) and Jana Anne (Richard)
Uryasz; and two grandchildren, Carson James McCormick and Madelyn Cate
Uryasz. Jim is also survived by his Sister, Sharyn Bennett of Waverly, Nebraska and step-brother, Larry (Jolene) Buck of Yutan, Nebraska.  Jim was preceded in death by his parents, step-father, and his sister Patricia (Jim) Way. Other living relatives include: His brothers-in-law James (Janice) Dill of Ashland and Bernard (Pamela) Dill of South Bend. Nephews, Jim and Joe Way, Dan Ritchey, Jerry Buck, Jamie Buck, Brook Dill and Bradley Dill.Nieces, Debbie Way, Kristi (Way) Burt, Kathie (Way) Norstadt, Vicki (Way) Nelson, Denise Ritchey, Deanna (Ritchey) Hayes, Danna (Ritchey) Bacon, Paula Buck, Laurie (Buck) Miller, Julie Buck, Laura (Dill) Dominik, Justine (Dill) Yingling, and Kristen Dill.Aunts Kathryn (Buck) Bundy, Luella (Buck) Lewis Close personal friend, Jerry Ritchey of Malcolm.

Jim attended elementary school in Havelock, Nebraska. During these formative  years he was a good student and a very talented basketball player. He played “street basketball” with the Havelock Boys.

In 1954, he moved to Ashland with his mother, stepfather, and sisters. This
is where he attended high school and played sports, graduating in 1958. This
was the first class to graduate from the Ashland-Greenwood High School. While in school he joined the United States Naval Reserves and continued on
to active duty, where he was assigned to the USS Reaper, a minesweeper,
touring the Pacific Ocean. After his honorable discharge, he attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska and Bellevue University. He went to work for Strauss Brothers Construction, working in Lincoln and Omaha –  pouring foundations and framing.

He married Janice on June 10, 1962, and to this union a daughter, Jill Ann
was born. After living a short time in Ashland, Jim built their new home in
South Bend, Nebraska. He continued to work construction projects in and
around the South Bend area. In 1965, daughter Jana Anne was born.

Jim developed an interest in flying airplanes and earned his private pilot
license at Brown’s Airport in Weeping Water, Nebraska. He continued his
aviation education at Lincoln Aviation where he earned his commercial,
instrument, and instructor licenses in general aviation. The Ruhge’s
purchased their first fixed wing aircraft and Jim began giving students
flight instructions. The family enjoyed numerous vacations while Jim flew
them to their destinations.

Jim continued in aviation earning his helicopter certificate and then joined
the Nebraska Army National Guard as a Warrant Officer serving out of
Lincoln, Nebraska with the 24th Medical Unit, flying the rotary wing
aircraft. Jim received honorable discharge in 1990, as a  Chief Warrant
Officer 2.

In the 1980s, Jim and Janice formed Ruhge Construction Company. For twenty years, Jim worked construction in the state of Nebraska building numerous commercial and residential structures as a general contractor. They built a convenience store and town homes in South Bend.

In 2000, he was appointed Cass County Building Inspector where he also
became the Zoning Administrator. Jim also worked with the Cass County
Planning Commission. He retired in 2012.

Jim was a long-time member of the Congregational Church in Ashland serving
on the Trustee’s Committee for many years. He also served his community as
the Zoning Administrator for the Village of South Bend and was a founding
member of the Ashland Rescue Squad.
Visitation Wednesday (3/30/16) 5-7 PM at Roeder Mortuary. Funeral Service
(3/31/16) 10:30 AM Thursday at Ashland Congregational Church 1542 Boyd St.
Ashland, NE, Interment South Bend Cemetery.

Memorials to: Congregational Church, 1542 Boyd Street Ashland, NebraskaSouth Bend Cemetery Fund, South Bend, NE 68058
Roeder Mortuary, Inc. –  Gretna Chapel
11710 Standing Stone Gretna, NE 402-332-0090
www.RoederMortuary.com