Jean Diane Ruf

Jean Diane Ruf, 94, of St. Joseph, went to meet her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Caretel Inns in St. Joseph.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held 2:30 P.M. Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at Starks and Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Robert Confer officiating.  Friends may visit with the family from 1:00 until 2:30 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home with a reception following the celebration of life service.  Memorials may be made to the First Church of God, St. Joseph.  Those wishing to sign Jean’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.  Jean was born December 4, 1920, in Grand Forks, North Dakota to Ferdinand and Christine (Burkhardt) Reeves.  Her family had immigrated from Volinia, Russia in 1912. Jean graduated from Benton Harbor High School Class of 1939.  On April 19, 1941, she married David F. Ruf in St. Joseph.  She was employed at several local business over the years, but her primary mission was caring for her home and family.  She was a member of the First Church of God where she was active in the Women of the Church of God.  She enjoyed sewing, embroidering, crocheting, reading, and was always helping others. Jean is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Sandra and Barry; her devoted loving friend and caregiver Laurie; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband David on September 17, 1998, and all of her siblings, three brothers-Julius, William and Gustave, and by seven sisters-Olga, Mildred, Lydia, Matilda, Martha, Rose, and Helen.