Jeffrey Ruehl, Sr.

Jeffrey R. Ruehl, Sr. passed away on October 12, 2022, at the age of 63 surrounded by his family. He was born on June 22, 1959, in Bowling Green, Ohio to James Ruehl, Sr. and Doris "Ann" Ruehl. He had a passion for sports and although Jeff was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just 5 years old, he refused to let it slow him down. He played hockey at Bowling Green High School and became an equipment operator at Bowling Green State University. Later, after he met and married Teresa, his wife of nearly 36 years, he instantly became the fun uncle to all the sports-loving nephews in her rather large family because he never turned down an opportunity to play a game of back-yard football or stage some track and field events for the future cross-country runners. He simply loved the outdoors, whether it was for work or play. It was a tough balancing act between enjoying the physical activities that seemed to sooth his soul and accepting the physical limitations diabetes forced on him, but he managed it with a quiet determination that would often make people forget there was anything wrong at all.

When he became a father, he passed on his love of all things outdoors to his sons. He loved attending their school events and even volunteered as the coach of their little league team for years. He them camping and hiking every weekend he could. Once, he hiked with them all the way from Waterville to Grand Rapids in the rain. To this day, both of his sons would choose an evening sitting outside around a campfire over sitting on a couch in front of the TV every single time—except for the days that football is on.

Of all the titles Jeff ever had, it was becoming a grandfather—or Papa as they all called him--that he enjoyed the most. Whether it was dancing with them in the kitchen to old rock and roll from his vinyl album collection, playing "pinecone war" in the front yard, letting the girls style his hair in "man" buns or ponytails, trekking all over Northwest Ohio to see and ride trains or watching Paw Patrol every morning in his underwear, Jeff adored being Papa.

While it was his failing heart that finally took him away from this world, it was his big heart that turned so many stray animals into part of the family that his wife lost count. But of the many, many dogs that came to call Jeff's house "home," it was undoubtedly, Buddy—his faithful companion for more than 18 years—who was first in line to greet him at the rainbow bridge.

It was that same big heart that made Jeff show up over and over again to help care for his mother-in-law when she developed dementia during the last decade of her life. Not only did he never complain or try to avoid any caregiver duties, he provided care in a way that never made her feel like a burden. She always loved his company. When she could still walk and only got confused occasionally, he cooked with her and cared for her garden with her. When the dementia got worse, he fished cardboard boxes out of the dishwasher and cleaned liquid downy out of the dryer when she thought she'd finished. When it got really bad, he just played along as whatever character she needed him to be in the moment, and he made her smile every day.

Jeff's longest running job was being Teresa's husband. They worked together even before they dated and then eventually got married. They found a lot of common interests over that 40 plus years, but one of their favorite things was their sense of humor. They loved to pull practical jokes, even on their kids. They also loved to cook together, and eventually he wore her down and she even learned to love football. They also loved watching TV together, even on nights when it wasn't the Bengals or the Redskins taking on the Titans. It is safe to say that Jeff wasn't just Teresa's husband. He was her best friend.
Jeff was preceded in death by both of his parents. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife as well and their two sons, Jeffrey Ruehl, Jr. and Joseph Ruehl, Sr.; his grandchildren, Joseph Ruehl, Jr., Rylee Ruehl, Aiyana Barrett, Amanda Ruehl, and Owen Ruehl; his siblings James Ruehl, Jr., Carol Brooks, and Julie Esterline; and a host of extended family and friends.

The family will receive guests Tuesday, October 18, 2022, from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm at Neapolis Church of Christ 8221 Main Street Neapolis, OH 43547, (419-875-6752). Funeral Services will begin Tuesday at 12:00 pm. at the at the church. Burial will follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Grand Rapids, OH.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Jeffrey's memory.

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