Gail Rebecca Soos
December 12th, 1938 - March 31st, 2026
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Gail's Obituary
Gail Rebecca Ruhl Soos, 87, of St. Joseph, passed away, Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held 12:00 P.M. Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at Heritage Chapel, 8747 US 31, Berrien Springs, with Rick Ruhl officiating. Per Gail's request she wanted a small funeral service with primarily just family and a few close friends. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Berrien Springs. Memorial donations in Gail’s name may be made to the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan. Those wishing to sign Gail’s Memory Book online may do so at www.heritage-chapel.com.
Gail was born December 12, 1938 in Grand Rapids to Edgar & Avis Merrihew. She graduated from Muskegon Heights High School, Class of 1956. Gail had a love of music and singing. She was part of several local groups as a vocalist, performing at Vince’s Club 33, The Captain’s Table and on television with the Green Valley Jamboree. It was there that she caught the eye of Johnny Cash who reached out to her and offered her to perform with his group. On November 23, 2003, she married John Soos, III in Baroda. She spent twenty-plus years with Butzbaugh & Dewane Law Firm in St. Joseph. Gail also loved her Lord Jesus Christ and spent many hours reading her Bible. Also important to Gail was the time spent with her loving family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
Gail is survived by her husband John; her children-Rick (Pat) Ruhl, Ron Ruhl, Kelly (Mitch) Sluder, all of Berrien Springs, John IV (Katherine) Soos of Ocala, FL, Todd (Noreen) Soos of Berrien Springs; grandchildren-Miki (Levon) Parker, Mica (Tony) Bordon, Macy (Joe) Coletti, Ronnie Ruhl, Nic (Kellie) Ruhl, Brooke (Jon) Rospierski, Mitch Jr. (Carrie) Sluder, Dana (Jason) Carter, Alexandria Soos, Austin Soos & Chase Long; twenty-one great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; siblings-Barbara DeLong, Rob (Sherry) Merrihew & Margie Salamone; numerous nieces & nephews and her feline companion “Buddy”. Gail was preceded in death by her son Jade Ruhl on April 4, 2004, her sister Lynn Vanderlinde, and brothers-in-law Ron DeLong, Pete Salamone & Bill Vanderlinde.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held 12:00 P.M. Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at Heritage Chapel, 8747 US 31, Berrien Springs, with Rick Ruhl officiating. Per Gail's request she wanted a small funeral service with primarily just family and a few close friends. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Berrien Springs. Memorial donations in Gail’s name may be made to the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan. Those wishing to sign Gail’s Memory Book online may do so at www.heritage-chapel.com.
Gail was born December 12, 1938 in Grand Rapids to Edgar & Avis Merrihew. She graduated from Muskegon Heights High School, Class of 1956. Gail had a love of music and singing. She was part of several local groups as a vocalist, performing at Vince’s Club 33, The Captain’s Table and on television with the Green Valley Jamboree. It was there that she caught the eye of Johnny Cash who reached out to her and offered her to perform with his group. On November 23, 2003, she married John Soos, III in Baroda. She spent twenty-plus years with Butzbaugh & Dewane Law Firm in St. Joseph. Gail also loved her Lord Jesus Christ and spent many hours reading her Bible. Also important to Gail was the time spent with her loving family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
Gail is survived by her husband John; her children-Rick (Pat) Ruhl, Ron Ruhl, Kelly (Mitch) Sluder, all of Berrien Springs, John IV (Katherine) Soos of Ocala, FL, Todd (Noreen) Soos of Berrien Springs; grandchildren-Miki (Levon) Parker, Mica (Tony) Bordon, Macy (Joe) Coletti, Ronnie Ruhl, Nic (Kellie) Ruhl, Brooke (Jon) Rospierski, Mitch Jr. (Carrie) Sluder, Dana (Jason) Carter, Alexandria Soos, Austin Soos & Chase Long; twenty-one great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; siblings-Barbara DeLong, Rob (Sherry) Merrihew & Margie Salamone; numerous nieces & nephews and her feline companion “Buddy”. Gail was preceded in death by her son Jade Ruhl on April 4, 2004, her sister Lynn Vanderlinde, and brothers-in-law Ron DeLong, Pete Salamone & Bill Vanderlinde.
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