Robert A. "Bob" Ruder

Robert A. “Bob” Ruder

Robert A. “Bob” Ruder, 80, Hays, died Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at his home.

He was born May 13, 1936 in Hays to Anton and Anna (Wasinger) Ruder.  He graduated from St. Joseph Military Academy in 1954.  He was in the U.S. Army from 1957 until 1959.  On May 18, 1959 he married Ila Mae Pfannenstiel in Hays.  He attended Fort Hays State University for two years then worked for 28 years at the Farmers Co-Op first as an accountant then as department manager of feed and fertilizer.  He was head custodian for USD 489 for 21 years and then custodian at Holy Family Elementary School for nearly 5 years.  He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus in Schoenchen.

Survivors include his wife, Ila Mae, of the home, a son; Tony Ruder and wife Janet of Wichita, three daughters; Cathy Hawley and husband Greg of Farmersville, TX, Barbara Flesher and husband Kevin of Broomfield, CO and Vicky Morton of Broomfield, CO, a brother; Earl Ruder and wife Mary of Edmond, OK, a sister; Diana Dome of Hays, a sister-in-law Norma Ruder of Liberal, KS, nine grandchildren; Nicole Hawley, Adam Hawley and wife Vanessa, Cecilia Welwood and husband Eric, Rachel Hawley and fiance Michael, Andrew Flesher, Abigail Flesher, Angela Flesher, Robert W. Ruder, and Aidan Morton, a great granddaughter; Bernadette Welwood, and numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother; LeRoy Ruder.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, 215 W. 13th.  Burial with military honors by the Hays VFW Honor Guard will be in the St. Joseph cemetery.  Visitation will be on Friday from 4:00 pm until 8:00 and on Saturday from 9:00 am until 9:45, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street.  A Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 6:00 followed by a parish vigil at 6:30, and a Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:00, all on Friday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to Holy Family Elementary School or to St. Joseph Catholic Church, in care of the funeral home.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com or via email at haysmemorialchapel@gmail.com