WILLIAM HARRY RUSE

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WILLIAM HARRY RUSE 1911 - 2007 On February 23, 2007, William Harry Ruse, aged 95, suddenly passed away peacefully with family members at his bedside. Dad was born in London, England and in 1919 immigrated with his family to the Elmwood area in Winnipeg. As a young man he studied at night with the help of his sweetheart, Em (Amerencia Smith), to complete high school while working as an office boy with Reliance Grain. In 1936 he and Em were married. During his tenure at Reliance Grain he successfully rose through the ranks to become manager of the Internal Audit Department and at the encouragement of his boss and with Em's blessing, Dad decided to article as a Chartered Accountant. In 1953, he and Em moved to Flin Flon where Dad established a C.A. firm which grew to Ruse, Lunam and Ahmad. While building a successful practice and actively helping to raise three girls, Dad continued to serve his community and church. He was a five year member of the Flin Flon School Board and in 1953 became a Rotarian. For the rest of his long life, Dad was passionately committed to promoting the Charitable Foundation and fellowship aspects of Rotary International. He was a Past District Governor of 5550 and a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. Members of the North Winnipeg Rotary Club have ensured that Dad could attend weekly meetings and, only one week ago he attended his 30th Rotary Goodwill Conference. Ordained as a church elder at age 21, Dad demonstrated living faith in many roles at Elmwood Presbyterian Church, St. Andrew's in Flin Flon, St. Andrews in St. Vital, and Kildonan Community Church including Clerk of Session, Sunday School Superintendent, Representative Elder and Scout leader. Dad and Mum loved their lifelong youth group friends called the Burning Bush Fellowship . They treasured involvement of the youth in church life and promoted camp life at Prescawa and Simonhouse Church Camps. Dad and Mum loved to explore and took us on family trips that broadened our experience. They later enjoyed travelling much of the world, attending various international conferences and had many tales to tell. The family also cherished good times and much laughter as they visited us all throughout the continent. When Dad retired in 1967, he and Mum returned to Winnipeg and maintained an active life. Dad organized Whist nights, acted as club treasurer, and enjoyed leading sing songs for the Social Club of his apartment complex. There, he also developed many friendships. In 2004, after years of attentive devotion, Dad lost his beloved wife of 67 years. He continued to be actively involved in his church, Rotary and family life, attending weddings and family gatherings long after he turned 90. Dad was an incredible role model for us all. He was a man of love, faithfulness and commitment, social conscience, integrity, sincerity, love of learning, and was the epitome of service above self. He had a wonderful sense of humour, a love of people, a hearty chuckle and smile that attracted our children and warmed our hearts. He was always assured of God's hand at work in his life and his family's. Grampy was deeply respected and dearly loved by his grand and great-grandchildren. He will be very sorely missed and forever remembered by his daughters, Norma Cameron, Margaret Ann (Ken) Wilson, Grace (Bryan) Tokle; grandchildren, Barbara (Eric), Heather (Jay), Donna (Darnell), Amber (John), Rhonda (Kevin), Deborah (Ryan), Kathryn (Stefano), and great-grandchildren, Thomas, Etienne, Moise, Veronique, Cameron, Chloe, Canaan, Gavin, Hailey, Ella, Michael and Caleb who were all very important to him. He is predeceased by his brother John and many in-laws, including his son-in-law, Dr. George Cameron. Also surviving Dad are his sister Margaret Kruger, sisters-in-law, Irene Ruse, Rita Goodale, and brother-in-law Tunis (Helen) Smith. We wish to acknowledge the outstanding loving care provided to Dad by the people who maximized a quality of life for him as follows: Home Care Staff, Luther Home Staff, May Deculing, all of his friends in the Luther Home Complex and Activity Club, The North Winnipeg Rotary Club, Kildonan Community Church family, and Kildonan Clinic Staff who went above and beyond in their care. We are also so grateful that in his final challenge, Dad and our family were cared for with such loving dignity by the emergency and I.C.U. staff at Seven Oaks Hospital. A Memorial Service will be held at Kildonan Community Church on Friday, March 2 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Kildonan Community Church, 2372 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R2B 4T6. THOMSON FUNERAL HOME 669 Broadway 783-7211

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 27, 2007