Lawrence “Larry” Ruff
Lawrence (Larry) Eugene Ruff, 86, of Dodgeville, passed away peacefully with his wife by his side on Monday, July 11th, 2022 at Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville. Larry was born on February 27th, 1936 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Erwin and Marjorie (Gribler) Ruff. He was a graduate of Dowagiac, Michigan schools. Larry was employed by Continental Can Printing Company where he met Colonel Sanders and designed the original Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket. Early in life, he was also involved in racing stock cars and the Cass County Sheriff’s Posse.
He married Priscilla (Pam) Medd, June 8th, 1958, where they had a farm and hog farrowing operation in Marcellus, Michigan. In 1972 they moved to the Florida Keys to begin a new career as a campground manager. They divorced in 1979 and he moved to Dodgeville, Wisconsin.
He met Cindy (Heeler) Honn and they married on December 14th, 1990. Larry was a carpenter and contractor in the Dodgeville area. They also started purchasing several homes in the area for their rental property adventure which provided affordable rental homes for area residents. Larry and Cindy enjoyed snowplowing area businesses and homes, especially on Christmas Eve. If they saw someone struggling they loved to help them in their time of need to ensure they could make their holiday a bit better. Larry was a mentor to several area young men (Jake, Justin, and Kerby) and taught them many tricks of the trade in carpentry and construction over the years so they too could start their own business pursuits.
Larry and Cindy loved to travel to see their children and grandchildren every other year and across the United States and Canada. They’ve traveled to Alaska on three different occasions with the most memorable of going to the Chickenstock Music Festival in Chicken, Alaska. For the last 31 years, they’ve also attended the St Joseph County Grange Fair in Centreville, Michigan.
Larry and Mike Crubaugh traveled many miles across the United States by bicycle.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Erwin and Marjorie Ruff, his brother, Gary Ruff, their son, Lark Honn, and his first wife, Pam Springer.
Larry is survived by their three children; Kelley (Mike) Davenport of Hondo, Texas, Kris (Rowdy) Knudsen of Columbia Falls, Montana, and Lane (Dusty) Honn of Alamosa, Colorado. They have 6 grandchildren; Travis (Leslie), Trevor (Tamara), Shiloh (Robert), Gabe (Emily), Colby, and Zeb and 5 great-grandchildren; Lyla, Emma, Liam, Presley, and Colt. He’s also survived by siblings; Jerry (Marie) Ruff of Yuma, Arizona and Janet (Don) Franz of Hartford, Michigan, and sister-in-law, Loretta Ruff of St Augustine, Florida.
A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hodan Community Services, Mineral Point, Wisconsin and The Compassionate Friends Area Chapter, Grace Lutheran Church, Dodgeville, Wisconsin or a charity of your choice in memory of Larry Ruff. The Lulloff-Peterson-Houck Funeral Home, Dodgeville is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.houckfuneralhomes.com
Lulloff-Peterson-Houck Funeral Home
Dodgeville 608-935-3628
www.houckfuneralhomes.com
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