Donald Eugene Ruhlman died Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at his home in rural Oskaloosa

Don was born in Atchison, the fifth of nine children, to Leo and Margaret (Setchell) Ruhlman. He attended Maur Hill Prep, graduating in 1950. Don joined the U.S. Air Force at age 19 and served as an M.P. at Forbes Field, guarding the planes by night.  He married Doris Noll of rural Jefferson County in 1954. After his discharge from the service in 1955, the couple built their own home on the outskirts of Atchsion and took ownership of the family market in town. He knew from a young age that he wanted to be a grocery man. Soon, he went to work for Drug Distributors (a non-foods subsidiary of Fleming Foods in Topeka) and moved to St. Joseph, MO, where he began a 27 year career. After transfers to Joplin, MO and Shawnee, KS,  Don was returned to division headquarters in Topeka. The family became involved in Scouting while in Joplin and Don served as Scoutmaster for several troops thereafter. He enjoyed camping, canoeing and fishing with family in the Ozarks and at the A.T. Noll family farm near Winchester.  Back in Topeka, Don became President of the division. When he left the company in 1988, he entered the video rental market. Retiring in 1995, he and Doris moved to rural Jefferson County, into a home they built on a hilltop overlooking the woods. For the past 30 years, they have gardened, put up firewood, made paths, built brush piles and kept the property. For 20 years, Don and Doris volunteered with the Jefferson County Service Organization to distribute monthly commodities for Jefferson County and participated in parish life at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Perry.  Don will be remembered as a family man who cherished the company of family. Together, he and Doris shared 67 years of holy marriage.  We commend his body and soul to the Holy Spirit in sure and certain hope of the resurrection and the promise of eternal life.

  Don is survived by Doris of the home, and preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Margaret (Setchell); Siblings, Leo, Jack, Bill, Clarence and Ann. His firstborn son, Michael (Brenda), his surviving children, Dan (Karen), Chris (Maureen), Terry (Nancy), and Lynne (Rene) Valdivia, grandchildren, Christy, Mandy, Justin, Erin, Elise, Michael and Jenna. Surviving siblings, Richard , Mary (Becker) and Pat (Alders) and four great-grandchildren.
 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Theresa Catholic Church, limited by by Covid-19 to immediate family. Don will be interred at Corpus Christi Cemetery, in the Mooney Creek of Community of rural Winchester.  

In lieu of flowers,  memorials are suggested to St. Theresa Catholic Church,  Corpus Christi Cemetery or to Jefferson County Friends of Hospice in care of Barnett Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 602, Oskaloosa, KS 66066.