Our Guy

This online memorial was created in loving memory of John (Joe) Ruthenbeck, whose life story is told throughout this memorial website. Please sign John (Joe)'s guest book and let us know you came to visit. We will remember John (Joe) forever.

My dear sweet Joe was born Dec., 29, 1971 at 2:49pm. He weighed in at 8lbs. 13 oz and was 21 inches long and Jack and I were elated to say the least. He was born with a collasped lung and I really didn't get to see him for awhile. ( I was too dopey back then to even ask why his lung was collasped). The girl, who I shared a hospital room with had a 4lb. baby girl. I was so upset because they wouldn't let me see my son. I was sure something had happened to him and they were trying to figure out how to tell me. Finally, they brought Joey in  for me to see him. I took one look at him and my heart melted. Wow!  He looked 2 months old already compared to the little baby girl next to me. Then panic set in!  This  adorable little guy expects me to take care of him!

We brought him home and we were in seventh heaven! We did the best we could with what we knew on how to be parents.

We'll jump ahead a few years. When Joe was a little boy, there is a moment that really stands out for me. I think he was 8 or 9 and he was in Cub Scouts. They were having a little play at school and Joe was chosen to wear his cubscout uniform and carry the American flag. All parents were invited to come. I was sitting in the audience , with the rest of the parents. When Joe came out, in front of the rest of the kids, carrying the flag in his little Cub Scout uniform, I lost my breath! I gasped and struggled to hold back the tears of joy, but, of course, I couldn't. I don't think I could have smiled any bigger or my face would have cracked. I looked around and the entire audience was smiling,  The love and pride, I had for my little boy was amazing! He was one special little boy!

Joe bringing Howie home with his Dad

Joe grew up to be an outstanding young man and that love, pride and joy, I felt, back when he was in that Cub Scout uniform, never left.

He graduated from college and became a pharmaceutical representative.

He loved all extreme sports, sky diving, white river rafting, skiing. He really loved body building and working out at the gym. Joe also loved the beach. He was a lifeguard for many years at our local beach. Joe loved to go camping. We did a lot of that when he and his sister were little. Joe really loved music too. He really got into the lyrics.

Most of all Joe loved his favorite campanion Howie. Howie was a pitbull rescue dog that Joe took in. He is a great dog. Howie now lives with Joe's friend Jerry.

Joe loved all his family and friends and he had a lot of both.

I don't know whether we told him enough, how much we loved him and continue to, and how proud we were to have him as our son. I can tell you one thing for sure, we loved him with every depth of our hearts and will forever love him immensely.

Losing our Joe has changed us forever. I can honestly say a huge part of me died with him.  We will always remember what a kind, considerate, sensitive, super handsome, lovable, dedicated and just plain wonderful person he became and that we are profoundly proud of him. THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR SON, JOE!

We hope you are out of your pain now and we will all be together again someday.

WE LOVE YOU HONEY!!!!

Love,

Mom & Dad, Jennifer, Spencer, Alexandra, Gabrielle and of course Howie.