October 31, 1939 - July 20, 2021

About a Dad by his three daughters: Dad had a great sense of humor and was born smiling. He was a great coach and listener and dropped everything when we needed him. He made us feel pretty and important and talented. 

Dad taught us girls to count by playing poker. This was back in the 70’s and as you can imagine, the boys didn't know what hit 'em when once the cards were dealt.

Most importantly, Dad showed us how to laugh at ourselves and to laugh out loud. 

An avid reader, Dad was a devoted patron of the library and would only reluctantly walk into a bookstore. He loved to read and drink coffee in front of the TV with mom and Olivia, their Shitzu Poodle, snuggled next to him. 

Meticulous about some things he wrote down every book he read in a little notebook he kept next to him. Un-meticulous about others, he often left a trail of debris in his wake. 

Dad loved to BBQ on his Hasty Bake, play poker with family and friends, and watch the History channel. He passed his love of Star Trek and sci fi movies to his daughters and three grandkids, Lily, Mia and Jonah.

Dad loved to travel and was known to be adventurous. He went on more than a few adventures with his son-in-laws Robert “Bob” Stevens, Steve Hoover, and Shawn DeCarlo—from wild bus rides with Bob in Mexico to riding the Colorado rapids with Steve to riding a bike through Beijing with Shawn in the wee hours of the night. 

Though he may have occasionally and lovingly called Bob, Steve, and Shawn "You Prick!" or "Punk Ass!" (probably because they were beating him in poker) Dad loved them and treated them like his own.

Dad loved mom to his last breath. You can see it in every photo of them together. Always walking by her side with a bounce in his step and a smile on his lips, you could tell he adored her. Just days before he left us, it was as though he shook off the veil of Alzheimer’s, looked her straight in the eyes, stroked her face, and, we swear, said good-bye. 

We miss you, Dad. We'll be playing poker, drinking cheap beer and gin martinis, singing Feliz Navidad, and eating those "stinking french fries and stinkin’ cheese" together again soon.

The details: John Ruwart was born October 31, 1939 in St. Genevieve, MO to Edward and Mary Ruwart. The second youngest child, he had three brothers—Edward, Jr, Joseph, and Fritz. He married the love of his life Harriet Lissette WIlliams on December 28, 1962. Together, they had three daughters Robyn Michelle, Heather Lynn, and Jennifer Ann and have three grandchildren, Lily Mei, Mia Cheng and Jonah Hendrix. 

There will be a private service for John’s family. In lieu of flowers, we ask donations be made to University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Center, whose mission is to improve the lives of patients and families with Alzheimer's disease by eliminating the disease through research into its treatment and prevention.