DEAN A. RUSCHMANN
1925 - 2008
In the early afternoon of April 1, 2008, with four eagles floating and soaring above his residence, Dean, a Charter Member and past president of Skagit Valley Eagles Aerie #3242 in Burlington was welcomed into the Grand Aerie of Heaven.
Dean, son of Chris J. and Margaretta Ruschmann was born in Hubbard, NB on November 24, 1925 and raised on the farm in Nebraska with his brothers and sister, Marvin, Maxine and Merle.
He married Hazel Winbolt in 1947 and began farming and raising a family on his own. After a bad economic year in 1955, he sold everything off and entered the work force to provide for his family of five. His search for work took him to Iowa and then in 1956 to the fertile Skagit Valley. He held many jobs here from Owens Roofing, Skagit Boat Works, Asgrow Seed Co. and the City of Burlington, at times working a day shift for the city and a night shift for Asgrow to support his now family of seven. He was known and loved by many in the community, the benefit of being a city employee and a community minded Eagle member. He retired from the city in 1985.
Dean is survived by his very dear and special friend of 18 years Janette Carter of Burlington; sister Maxine Rasmussen of South Sioux City, NB; brother, Marvin & wife Dorothy of Homer, NB; his ex-wife, Hazel of Bellingham; his son, Harvey & wife Silke of Mount Vernon; granddaughters, Jessica of Mount Vernon and Misty Silvas of Sedro-Woolley; grandson, Jason of Alabama; son, Randy & wife, Kathy, and, granddaughter Sarah of Burlington, and granddaughter, Mindy Ramos of Silver Lakes, CA; grandson, Chris of Juneau, AK; daughter, Karen & husband, Richard Powell, and grandsons, Jessie and Brian of Bellingham; daughter, Rhonda Murcray, and grandson, Austin of Burlington; grandson, Rick of the U.S. Marine Corps. at WSU; daughter, Lori & husband, Mark Hooker, and granddaughter, Brandy of Burlington and granddaughter, Michelle of Sedro-Woolley; great-grandchildren, Jay of Sedro-Woolley, Matthew and Makayla of Silver Lakes, CA, Anna-May of Bellingham, Michael and Issaiah of Burlington; and many nieces and nephews in Nebraska, Iowa, California and Washington.
Preceding him in death were his parents; infant brother Harvey; and brother Merle.
Memorial services will be held Friday, 11:00 a.m., April 11, 2008 at Burlington Lutheran Church, 134 East Victoria Avenue, Burlington, followed by a reception at the Skagit Valley Eagles, FOE #3242.
Friends are also invited to a reception on Saturday, 12 noon to 5:00 p.m., April 12, 2008 at Skagit Valley Eagles, FOE #3242, 119 North Cherry Street, Burlington, Saturday, April 12, 2008.
Arrangements are under the direction of Hulbush Funeral Home, Burlington.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that you may make donations to either the Eagles Cancer fund, or, Skagit Hospice Foundation, PO Box 1376, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.
Published in the Skagit Valley Herald Publishing Company on 4/8/2008.