Roger Rulseh

Roger David Rulseh, 96, died on February 6, 2021 at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg from complications of old age.

Roger was born in Mountain on October 30, 1924, to John C. and Elizabeth (Gunderson) Rulseh. He graduated from Manitowoc Lincoln High School, served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1950 with a degree in electrical engineering. He married Mary M. Pollock in Manitowoc on May 11, 1946.

Roger and Mary began married life in a tiny trailer home at Camp Randall near the university campus. They had no running water or other amenities, but those were happy days shared with many other young couples starting out their college careers under the GI Bill. Two of the eight Rulseh children were born at Camp Randall.

After Roger’s graduation the family moved to Manitowoc and then to Two Rivers. Mary kept the growing household running smoothly while Roger was employed at Hamilton Manufacturing in Two Rivers and later for two decades at Paragon Electric Co. in Two Rivers. There he rose to the position of chief engineer and earned more than a dozen patents for his inventions related to time controls. He later taught for many years and in a wide variety of subjects at Lakeshore Technical College, while also working for other manufacturing businesses.

He and Mary were long-time members of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Two Rivers. In the late 1960s and early 1970s Roger served on the School District of Two Rivers Board of Education. In the early 1970s the couple moved to New Holstein and in 2003 to Madison.

Roger was a man of varied interests and strong opinions. Wherever he lived, he wrote frequent letters to the editor on political and other topics. An adventurer at heart, Roger attempted to hitchhike to Alaska at age 16 with friend Robert Rosinsky. They didn’t make it, but while in their 70s Roger and Mary made the trip with other family members. Other travels took him to Canada, Puerto Rico, Norway, Germany, Belize, and many of the 50 states.

In his later years Roger developed an interest in growing trees from seeds and planted many of them at his homes in New Holstein and Madison. He was instrumental in the design and planting of the arboretum at Ledge View Nature Center in Calumet County; he and Mary were among the founders of Calumet Nature Studies, the nonprofit organization that operates the nature center.

Roger also was recognized by the City of New Holstein for his contributions to tree plantings in the community.

Later in life, despite being legally blind, Roger turned to making walking sticks, coat trees, napkin and paper towel holders, and many other items from the wood of buckthorn trees, an invasive species on the property of Oak Park Place in Madison, where he lived for his last decade.

Roger is survived by children Susan (Paul) Fieber of Fitchburg, Stephen (Marilyn) Rulseh of Greenfield, Ted (Noelle) Rulseh of Harshaw, Ann (Thomas Kasper) Rulseh of Madison, Mary (William) Kindelberger of Nekoosa, Margaret (Daniel) Immerfall of Madison, and John (Lori) Rulseh of Oregon (Wis.); along with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, son James R. (Darlene) Rulseh, brothers Richard (Delores) Rulseh and Elroy (Phyllis) Rulseh, and sister Dorothy (Elmer) Smith.

The family is grateful to Lucille Haack, who was Roger's loving companion for the last years of his life. They enjoyed many good times and adventures together.

A joint celebration of Roger’s and Jim’s lives will be held on Saturday, June 19, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the John Wall Pavilion, Tenney Park, 402 N. Thornton Ave., Madison. A brief program will be presented at 1:00 p.m.