Earl J. Ruden

Earl John Ruden passed away peacefully on May 25, 2025, at 8:51 AM at Accura HealthCare Center (formerly Shady Rest) in Cascade, IA.

Private funeral services are being arranged and held by Kramer-Morris Funeral Home in Dyersville, IA, officiated by Rev. Christopher Podhajsky, followed by a private service and burial at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Dyersville, IA.

Earl was born on October 22nd, 1948, son of Nick and Clara (Fangmann) Ruden. He grew up on the Ruden family farm west of Dyersville, later graduated from Xavier High School in Dyersville and worked at Spahn & Rose Lumber in Dyersville, while also helping on the farm during his youth and young adult years. He took over operations and ownership of his dad’s farm in 1979 and married Karen Hildebrand on October 10th, 1987, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Petersburg. Together, they had one son, Kyle Earl, on August 9, 1990. Earl enjoyed his family and being a dad to Kyle, teaching him about farming and life skills. He took his farming seriously but enjoyed talking (and joking around) with any others that would listen. He suffered a massive stroke in 2008, which left him unable to come home and lived at Accura HealthCare since then. There he lived with the staff that cared for him greatly and showed them the man he was by greeting them with “Hey, Hey, Hey” or handshakes and even hugs. He enjoyed listening to classic country music, as well as his interests in classic cars and IH tractors.

Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Karen L. Ruden of Dubuque, IA, son Kyle (Amanda)Ruden of Blanchardville, WI, sister Joan Kennedy of Dyersville, IA, sister-in-law Linda Ruden of Dubuque, IA, brother-in-law Mike (Lou) Hildebrand of Rockford, IL. Two nieces; Gayle (Kevin) Barkema of Conrad, IA, and Nancy (Tom) Griffin of Houston, TX, and one nephew Randy (Nikki) Ruden of Osseo, MN and many grand nieces and nephews.

Earl was preceded in death by his father, Nick Ruden (1980), mother, Clara Ruden (1990), father-in-law William Hildebrand (1993), mother-in-law Loretta (Egloff) Hildebrand (1984), brother Dennis Ruden (2001), brother-in-law Vernon Kennedy (2013), nephew Tom (Vicky) Kennedy (2019) and his son Bradley M. Kennedy (2024).

The family would like to thank the staff at Accura HealthCare of Cascade for their many years of great care to Earl, as well as Hospice of Dubuque up until his passing.

Kramer-Morris Funeral Home in Dyersville is assisting the family. Information is available at https://www.kramer-morrisfuneralhome.com.