Marvin Ruis

Marvin H. Ruis, 67, of Beaver Island and Pensacola, Fla, formerly of Ellsworth, died April 15, 2015 in Pensacola.

Born December 4, 1947 in Charlevoix to Henry and Bernice (Nelson) Ruis, Marv graduated from Ellsworth Community School in 1966, obtained a bachelors degree from Michigan State University in 1970 and master's degree in school administration from Central Michigan University in 1978. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force and 16 years in Army Reserves with the 182nd Transportation Co. which was deployed to Iraq in Operation Desert Storm.

On September 6, 1969 he married Kathleen Wieland in Ellsworth where they lived while Marv was Principal of Ellsworth Community School for 22 years.

Marv enjoyed fishing, hunting, reading Civil War, WWII and Michigan history. He enjoyed old movies, a wide variety of music, nightly bonfires, watching boats at the Soo Locks, gardening, wood chopping, making maple syrup and sharing remembrances with veterans. He carved two totem poles.

Marv was a member of the Amvets #12 in Pensacola, American Legion, VFW, Whiskey River Gun Club of Beaver Island, and founding member of the Essex Road Literary Society.

Surviving are his wife Kathy; daughter Lori (Brian) Frohock of Oxford; grandchildren Ella and Camden; brother Rich (Helen) Ruis of Ludington; sister-in-law Roselynn Ruis of Richland; brother-in-law Larry (Mary Ellen) Dawson of Beaver Island; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister Laraine Dawson and brother Stan Ruis.

The memorial service will be at noon Saturday, May 2, at Belltower Reformed Church with Pastor Si Doctor officiating. Friends may call from 11 a.m. until noon. Inurnment will be in Ellsworth Cemetery.

For those wishing to make memorial contributions the family suggests USO or Ellsworth Community School Scholarship Fund.

Local arrangements were made by Hastings Funeral Home, online at www.hastingsfuneral.com