GARY HAROLD RUGG

August 9, 1942 — December 24, 2021

Posted

TAVARES, FL - Gary Harold Rugg of Tavares, Florida and formerly of Cataract Wisconsin died at his home on December 24, 2021, after a short battle with cancer. Gary was born on August 9, 1942, the son of Harold (Dud) Rugg and Geneva Hanson. In December 1961 he married Ellen Marie Kremmer at St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Cataract.  They were married 59 years 11 months and 24 days. Just shy of their 60th wedding anniversary which they were looking forward to celebrating.

   Gary grew up in the Cataract area where he attended the Cataract State Graded School. He graduated from Sparta Senior High School in 1960.   After graduation from high school, he joined the Navy in June of 1960.   He attended Boot Camp at Great Lakes, Illinois as well as the Naval Hospital Corps School and was stationed at the Naval Administrative Command in Great Lakes Illinois until 1963. In September 1963 he re-enlisted in the Navy and retired as a Chief Petty Officer in 1980 after serving 20 years. During his career he was stationed aboard the Navy Ice Breaker, USS Staten Island (AGB-5,) USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5,) USS Okinawa (LPH-3) and USS Midway (DV-42.) Gary traveled the Pacific during his career in the Navy. He went from the North Pole to the South Pole.   He visited Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, was off the coast of Viet Nam, Cambodia, Philippines, New Zealand, and many other ports of call.  US ports he lived in were Seattle WA, San Diego, CA, Albany, GA, Tustin, CA.  After his retirement from the Navy, Gary and Ellen returned to Cataract, Wisconsin. In 1980 Gary attended Western Wisconsin Technical Institute and received his Associate Degree in Nursing and was employed by the Veteran Administration Hospital at Tomah, Wisconsin for the next 24 years.   He retired from the VA in April 2006.   

   Gary then enjoyed his hobbies of fishing, hunting, and traveling.   He liked sports and had a lot of sports trivia knowledge.  He spent as much time at their RV in Chetek, Wisconsin, Lost Land Lake in Hayward, Wisconsin. In 2007 they moved their RV to Black Duck MN and enjoyed their summers fishing and enjoying the area and beautiful sunsets at Beaver Creek Resort. In 2010 they decided that they wanted to enjoy the sunny weather of Florida in the winter and the summers in MN and they bought a home in the Tavares area of Florida and became residents of Florida.

   Gary is survived by his wife Ellen of Tavares, Florida. Sisters Charlotte (Robert) Knight of Holmen, Elaine Thompson of Sparta; brother Dennis Rugg; nieces Marcia (John) O’Duggan of Lewiston, MN;  Stacy (Kyle) Corbo of Florida; Michelle (Sam) Dennis, Reedsburg, Wisconsin.   Nephews Travis Rugg, Wisconsin, Craig Thompson of Sparta and many other family and friends he made thru out his life.

   He was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Geneva Rugg, brother Donald Dean Rugg and his father and mother-in-law   Spencer and Dorothy Kremmer. Brother-in- laws Mike Thompson and James Kremmer.

   Cremation will be handled by the National Cremation Society of Ocala Florida. Burial will be in the Cataract Cemetery at a later date.