Irving Ruff

Irving Carl Ruff, age 85, of Sun Prairie, WI, passed away on September 11, 2018 peacefully in his sleep. He was born on June 25, 1933 in Eleva, WI, the son of Erwin and Wilma (Gross) Ruff. He married Beverly (Arola) Ruff on May 19, 1956 in Eau Claire, WI.

Irving was born on the family farm and attended school in Cleghorn, WI. He spent time in the Army during the Korean War. He married the love of his life shortly after getting out of the Army, and they were happily married for 46 years. He graduated from University of Wisconsin-Stout and had a long career at IBM as an engineer, eventually working with the space program. He was a kind and loving father to his three children who grew up in Greendale, WI. He was transferred to Florida where he was a part of IBM's development of the first PC's. He later retired in North Carolina in the Great Smoky Mountains. Irving loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, often playing as if he were a kid himself! Recently, he enjoyed a memorable Badger Honor Flight with his daughter, Judy. Irving will be remembered for his amazing sense of humor and his love of the Green Bay Packers.

Survivors include sisters Thelma (Jerry) Schilling and Carol (Bruce) Britten; daughter Judy (Charlie) Kesler; son Tim Ruff; grandchildren Chris (Victoria) Kesler, Kathryn (Brad) Fishnick, Lisa (Tom) Sosinsky, Sami Ruff, Jacob Ruff, Zack Dormeier, Katie Dormeier, and Nicholas Ruff; and great-grandchildren Haley Fishnick, Kinsley Fishnick, Roma Kesler, and Julian Kesler.

Irving is preceded in death by his loving wife Beverly (Arola) Ruff; his son Michael Ruff; his sisters Ivadell (Ruff) Kjesbo, Margaret (Ruff) Birtzer, Janice (Ruff) Robertson, and Bernice (Ruff) Blomquist; and his brothers Melvin Ruff and Donald Ruff.

Visitation will be from 10-11:00 AM on Monday, September 17, 2018 at Cress Funeral Home, 1310 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie, WI 53590 with a memorial service to follow at 11:00 AM. There will be a lunch afterwards at the funeral home. Irving will be buried next to his wife at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Murphy, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to stemforward.org to support STEM education or to badgerhonorflight.org to support Badger Honor Flights for veterans.


Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
1310 Emerald Terrace
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
608-837-9054