----Source: Tribune-Record-Gleaner (Clark County, Wis.) 03/07/2001
 

Ruzic, Ivan Z. (1905 - 2001)

Ivan Z. Ruzic, 95, Neillsville, Clark County, died on Friday, March 2, 2001, at the Memorial Medical Center, Neillsville. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, March 5, at the Holy Family Catholic Church, Willard. The Rev. Joseph Follmar and the Rev. Joseph Henseler officiated. Burial was in the Holy Family Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers were grandsons, Michael, Ivan A., and Matthew Ruzic, Steve Martens, and great-grandsons, Shawn and Phillip Ruzic.

Ivan Z. Ruzic was born on Dec. 10, 1905, in Zabno, Croatia (Yugoslavia), to Matt and Ana (nee Butkovic) Ruzic. In 1908, they moved to Gallup, N.M., and then in 1912, they moved to Springfield, Ill., where he attended school at St. Patrick's and St. Barbara Parochial Schools. In 1919, they moved to Willard and he helped on the family farm. As a young man, he also worked in Chicago and followed the wheat harvest in North Dakota. He married Angeline Artac in June 1932. The farmed at Greenwood for nearly 30 years. She died on June 8, 1959. He was a charter member of the Greenwood Cooperative and served 27 years on the co-op's board of directors. He was also treasurer of the Slovenian Catholic Union KSKJ 136 at Willard for 20 years. He sang in the choir, often singing duets with his wife. After his marriage to Mary A. Pekol in Aug. 1961, he moved to Milwaukee, where he was a gardener for the University of Wisconsin Botany department for 10 years. They retired to Cherokee Village, Ark., in 1981. They returned to Marshfield in 1990. She died on Sept. 29, 1991. He resided at the Neillsville Memorial Nursing Home the past two years. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus and the Arkansas Lions Club. He had an intellectual curiosity. He was well versed on many subjects. He had a particular interest in what was happening on the home farm , which is still farmed by his grandson, Michael (Monica) Ruzic.

Survivors include two sons, Ivan F. (Darlene) Ruzic, Stratford, and Gary F. (JoAnn) Ruzic, Neillsville one daughter, Donna (Hilbert) Martens, Junction City 12 grandchildren 20 great-grandchildren two great-great-granddaughters three sisters, Zora Macknick, Stevens Point, Frances (Ed) Kokaly, Marshfield, and Ann Mossak, Omro and one daughter-in-law, Geraldine Ruzic, Willard.

He was preceded in death by his parents one brother, Vincent and one sister, Angela.

Memorials may be given in his name to the memorial Nursing Home, Neillsville, or the American Slovenian Catholic Union KSKJ 136 Scholarship Fund, Willard.

Gesche Funeral Home, Neillsville, assisted the family with arrangements.