Ronald Bruesch

Ronald Bruesch, 81, Wahpeton, ND, passed away Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at his home under the care of Riveredge Hospice; surrounded by his loving family. The Funeral Mass will be 7:30 PM Saturday, at St. John's Catholic Church, Wahpeton, with Rev. Dale Lagodinski officiating. The visitation will be Friday, from 5 PM to 7 PM with a 6:45 Knights of Columbus Rosary and a 7 PM Prayer Vigil, at the Willow Creek Chapel, Wahpeton. There will also be visitation one hour before the service at the church on Saturday. Arrangements have been entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton.

Ron was born in St. Paul, MN, July 29, 1933. At the age of 14 his family moved to Underwood, ND where he graduated in 1952 from the Underwood High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduation, receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1956. He remained on inactive duty until 1960.

Ron attended the North Dakota State College of Science from 1956-1958. His first job was with McCarney Ford of Bismarck. He began working as body man/painter in 1958 and co-managed the dealership from 1963-1969. He was married to his wife Doris Kreller at St. Bonaventure's Catholic Church, Underwood, ND on June 7, 1958.

Ron began teaching auto body at NDSCS in the fall of 1969 until his retirement as an Associate Professor in May of 1998. He completed his degree work at NDSU in May, 1980. He was actively involved with many activities at the college and for the auto body industry. He was a contributing editor and published six articles each year for a leading auto body magazine; Body Shop Business. He also wrote four to eight articles for the North Dakota Auto Body Association magazine each year. With other members of the ACR department he actively participated at the association's yearly meetings and state convention. He has served as District Director for the Association. Ron was named Auto Body Man of the Year in 1994. In 2000, he was inducted in the Auto Body Association Hall of Fame.

He was Department Chair of the Auto Body program for five years and served on many committees while teaching at the college. He served for many years as the awards chairman for the VICA competition, served on Faculty Senate, was advisor to the Newman Club, advisor to the student's Auto Body Club for twenty years and was also nominated for Who's Who in American Junior Colleges.

Ron was a member of St. John's Catholic Church, a member of the church choir for over 40 years and a member of the Alphean Chorus. He received an Honorary Life Membership in the Knights of Columbus where he served in a number of capacities. He was also a member of the American Legion.

He loved spending time with his family and enjoyed all of the treasured moments he had with his grandchildren and was so proud of becoming a great grandfather. His hobbies were fishing, reading, yard work and especially having coffee with friends.

Ron is survived by his wife, Doris; their six children, Lori(Andy) Ulsh, Niceville, FL and their four children, Chris, Katy, DJ and Kiersten; Lynette, Fergus Falls, MN; Michael (Connie), Baxter, MN and their five children, April (Ken) Ted, Ashley, Elizabeth and Grant; Lisa (Scott) Lyon, Morgantown, WV and their two boys, Andy and Zachary; Michelle (Mark) Ferrell, Fargo, ND and their four children, Drew, Paul, Cole and Abby; Dawn (Scott) Jarvis, Breckenridge, MN; four great-grandchildren; Aiden, Braeden, Caeden and Logan; sisters-in-law, Karen M. Kreller, Karen R. Kreller and Betty Lou Kreller.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Mercedes Bruesch, his sister and her husband, Donna and Joe Parkinson, his brother, Richard and his wife, Janell and their baby daughter, Sandra, his father and mother-in-law, Joseph and Frances Kreller, brothers-in-law, Dale and Robert Kreller.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials be made to the donor's favorite charity.