Kenneth Ray Ruberg

Kenneth Ray Ruberg 1952-2016

If nicknames are a sign of affection, and many believe they are, Kenneth Ray Ruberg was loved by his family and treasured by all his friends. Few people referred to him by his God-given name. In fact, some never knew him by anything other than “Rudy.” Classmates and coaches affectionately called him “Rutabaga” during his school days in Yuma.

Kenneth Ray Ruberg, 63, passed away Saturday, January 16, at Yuma District Hospital. He will be missed by anyone who knew him, and by everyone lucky enough to hear one of his stories, whether it was a tale about one of his favorite dogs or one of his many wild and wooly adventures.

Born in Yuma on September 25, 1952, Rudy was the second child of Raymond and Eleanore Ruberg. Kenneth’s older sister, Gloria, was born in 1948. Rudy’s father served with the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II in the Pacific Theater. Raymond Ruberg died unexpectedly in 1962, leaving Eleanore a widow at the young age of 39.

Undaunted and determined, Eleanore went to work at Shop-All as the accountant and office manager. She worked there for 35 years, raised both children and did an amazing job. Both Rudy and Gloria inherited Eleanore’s work ethic and sense of humor.

Rudy graduated from Yuma High School in 1970. From there he went to Northeastern Junior College in Sterling where he earned an associate college degree. His first full-time job was with Yuma County Grain Company, working alongside men like Johnny Andrews, Dick Stallings and Bob Stallings, all of whom became lifelong friends.

Rudy’s sense of adventure was limitless and without boundaries. He lived life “full throttle” and was seldom seen without his good-natured grin, and he always seemed to have a good word for friends and strangers. He loved hunting and fishing. And his passion for everything outdoors would take him far and wide. He traveled to Canada and Alaska just to go fishing. A good destination for Rudy was any body of water, big or small, where fish were found. Walleye, catfish, trout, salmon, bass, northern pike; it didn’t matter what species it was. If it had scales and would strike a lure, Rudy would give it a run.

He was equally passionate about hunting. Even toward the end of his life, as he struggled to get around, Rudy still had the energy and ambition to grab a shotgun and look for roosters when pheasant season arrived.

His final hunting trip took place in Texas last spring. Joni said it had been Rudy’s lifelong dream to hunt wild boar. And on the last day of the adventure in March he bagged a 300-pound hog.

Motorcycles were also a big part of his life and he road many miles down the road with close friends, including occasional forays into the Black Hills of South Dakota for Sturgis. When he heard that Evel Knievel was going to jump the Snake River Canyon in 1971, Rudy and a close friend threw two sleeping bags in the back of his Jeep and headed to southern Idaho to become part of the circus.

The biggest love of his life was Joni Yoshiko Nishimoto. They were married on July 19, 1986, and lived in Erie, Colo., for several years. Rudy ran heavy equipment and worked construction while Joni taught school. In 1994 they bought a small farm in rural Washington County and settled down with some cows, occasionally, and a garden full of vegetable every summer, happy and content with the rural life.

Rudy sold his motorcycle for $6,000 and used that money to buy a 5020 John Deere tractor and took up farming. Joni taught at the Arickaree School District where she remained until her retirement several years ago.

Rudy enjoyed helping his friends and neighbors and was a proud member of the Cope Volunteer Fire Department. He also was a big fan and supporter of athletics at Arickaree High School.

He was a self-described “jack of all trades.” And as all of his friends knew, Rudy played just as hard as he worked. He will be greatly missed by everyone.

Kenneth Ray Ruberg is survived Joni, his wife of 29 years; his sister Gloria and her husband Charlie of Longmont; niece Stacey Mari and husband John of Broomfield; nephew Darin Josh and wife Amy of Frederick; and many other nieces and nephews and family members.