Obituary for Richard "Dick" Ruple
Richard “Dick” Charles Ruple passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at the age of 87, in his Hockley Valley home of over 40 years.
Dick was born on February 17, 1936 in Chardon, Ohio. He was the third child of Richard and Helen Ruple. His lifelong love of the outdoors began with his childhood adventures exploring the area around his home near Lake Aquilla.
In 1954, he graduated from Chardon High School and enlisted in the Air Force where he served for 4 years and gained an education in encryption and electronics. On December 23, 1955, he married his high school sweetheart, Deanna Rae Deia. He was stationed on the Pacific Island of Guam where their first child, Lori, was born. In 1958 they returned to Ohio where Vicki and Steve were born and Dick started working in industrial electronics. In 1967, a job opportunity moved their young family to Oshawa, Ontario. Dick and Deanna started their own company, Mod-Tronic Instruments Ltd., in 1972 in Brampton, Ontario, which is still run successfully today by two of their children.
In the late 1970s, Dick and Deanna began traveling the world, going on grand adventures where they saw amazing sights and made new friends.
The consummate outdoorsman, Dick enjoyed camping, fishing, heading out on the lake in a canoe or motor boat, cooking over a fire, whittling walking sticks, feeding chipmunks and sitting with family and friends by the campfire. Winters were spent snowmobiling through the woods and pulling kids on saucers in the neighborhood field.
All his life Dick loved to create, invent and build things: birdhouses, bird feeders, a tent camper, a dune buggy, treehouses, furniture and toys for his grandchildren. In his late 30s, his woodworking evolved into artistic wood carving. Many of his family and friends were given one of his charming and well-crafted totem poles, walking sticks, carvings or boxes.
He loved his toys: riding his ATV, tractor, motorcycle and lawnmower, operating his backhoe, and running his sawmill. What he enjoyed the most was sharing them with family and friends.
Dick loved children and was generous with his time. When his kids were young, he was an assistant hockey coach, Cub Scout leader, Venturer leader, and chaperoned a school trip to Rankin Inlet. Later, he mentored two young boys from the community offering them new experiences and teaching them new skills. Dick and Deanna invited the local Scout troops to camp on their 100-acre farm.
He was a member of the Headwaters Carving Club; the Nature Pole they carved on his farm property is now located at Dragonfly Park. Dick and a few friends started a nighttime annual Christmas lighted tractor parade in Orangeville which ran for many years.
In his later years, he especially enjoyed sitting in the sunshine on the back balcony of his home facing the river and woods, looking for wildlife and listening for birds.
Dick will be greatly missed by Deanna, his wife of 67 years, and his children, Lori J. Ruple and husband, Barry Peterson, Vicki L. Ruple Lepe and husband, Memo Lepe, and Steven Ruple and wife, Jennifer Arnold. He was the cherished grandfather of Melina Lepe, Kelsey Peterson (Christopher Wells), Carter Peterson (Katherine van Stolk-Cooke), Dalton Jake Lepe and Cole Ruple, who will deeply miss his mischievous sense of humour, endless fun activities, teasing and wise counsel. Dick was also the treasured great-grandfather of Astraea Lepe-Tabone, Flora Wells and Margo Wells. The sound of the voices and singing of his great-grand-daughters would always touch his heart and bring a smile to his face. He will be remembered fondly by other family members, friends, mentees, and members of the community. He was predeceased by his siblings Dorothy Wedge, Pearl Valvoda and Van Ruple.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Dods & McNair Funeral Home, Chapel & Reception Centre, 21 First St., Orangeville, Ontario on Saturday, November 18th, 2023, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. with memories and reflections to be shared starting at 3:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider mentoring a child, teaching someone a new skill or craft, or sharing your love of nature. Or consider a donation in Dick’s honour to an organization that helps children like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada (directed to Dufferin County, Ontario).
A tree will be planted in memory of Dick in the Dods & McNair Memorial Forest at the Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville, Ontario. The 22nd Annual Dedication Service will be held on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.dodsandmcnair.com.
Dick was born on February 17, 1936 in Chardon, Ohio. He was the third child of Richard and Helen Ruple. His lifelong love of the outdoors began with his childhood adventures exploring the area around his home near Lake Aquilla.
In 1954, he graduated from Chardon High School and enlisted in the Air Force where he served for 4 years and gained an education in encryption and electronics. On December 23, 1955, he married his high school sweetheart, Deanna Rae Deia. He was stationed on the Pacific Island of Guam where their first child, Lori, was born. In 1958 they returned to Ohio where Vicki and Steve were born and Dick started working in industrial electronics. In 1967, a job opportunity moved their young family to Oshawa, Ontario. Dick and Deanna started their own company, Mod-Tronic Instruments Ltd., in 1972 in Brampton, Ontario, which is still run successfully today by two of their children.
In the late 1970s, Dick and Deanna began traveling the world, going on grand adventures where they saw amazing sights and made new friends.
The consummate outdoorsman, Dick enjoyed camping, fishing, heading out on the lake in a canoe or motor boat, cooking over a fire, whittling walking sticks, feeding chipmunks and sitting with family and friends by the campfire. Winters were spent snowmobiling through the woods and pulling kids on saucers in the neighborhood field.
All his life Dick loved to create, invent and build things: birdhouses, bird feeders, a tent camper, a dune buggy, treehouses, furniture and toys for his grandchildren. In his late 30s, his woodworking evolved into artistic wood carving. Many of his family and friends were given one of his charming and well-crafted totem poles, walking sticks, carvings or boxes.
He loved his toys: riding his ATV, tractor, motorcycle and lawnmower, operating his backhoe, and running his sawmill. What he enjoyed the most was sharing them with family and friends.
Dick loved children and was generous with his time. When his kids were young, he was an assistant hockey coach, Cub Scout leader, Venturer leader, and chaperoned a school trip to Rankin Inlet. Later, he mentored two young boys from the community offering them new experiences and teaching them new skills. Dick and Deanna invited the local Scout troops to camp on their 100-acre farm.
He was a member of the Headwaters Carving Club; the Nature Pole they carved on his farm property is now located at Dragonfly Park. Dick and a few friends started a nighttime annual Christmas lighted tractor parade in Orangeville which ran for many years.
In his later years, he especially enjoyed sitting in the sunshine on the back balcony of his home facing the river and woods, looking for wildlife and listening for birds.
Dick will be greatly missed by Deanna, his wife of 67 years, and his children, Lori J. Ruple and husband, Barry Peterson, Vicki L. Ruple Lepe and husband, Memo Lepe, and Steven Ruple and wife, Jennifer Arnold. He was the cherished grandfather of Melina Lepe, Kelsey Peterson (Christopher Wells), Carter Peterson (Katherine van Stolk-Cooke), Dalton Jake Lepe and Cole Ruple, who will deeply miss his mischievous sense of humour, endless fun activities, teasing and wise counsel. Dick was also the treasured great-grandfather of Astraea Lepe-Tabone, Flora Wells and Margo Wells. The sound of the voices and singing of his great-grand-daughters would always touch his heart and bring a smile to his face. He will be remembered fondly by other family members, friends, mentees, and members of the community. He was predeceased by his siblings Dorothy Wedge, Pearl Valvoda and Van Ruple.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Dods & McNair Funeral Home, Chapel & Reception Centre, 21 First St., Orangeville, Ontario on Saturday, November 18th, 2023, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. with memories and reflections to be shared starting at 3:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider mentoring a child, teaching someone a new skill or craft, or sharing your love of nature. Or consider a donation in Dick’s honour to an organization that helps children like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada (directed to Dufferin County, Ontario).
A tree will be planted in memory of Dick in the Dods & McNair Memorial Forest at the Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville, Ontario. The 22nd Annual Dedication Service will be held on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.dodsandmcnair.com.