Funeral Services for Tim Ruge, age 65 of Plainview, will be 10:30 am Friday, October 6, 2023 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Plainview, NE with Pastor Janelle Siffring and Pastor Neil Kloppenborg officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Plainview. Visitation will be from 5-7 on Thursday, October 5, 2023 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Plainview with a Prayer Service at 7 pm. Timothy passed away on Sunday, September 24, 2023 at his home in Plainview, NE. Memorials may be directed to his family for future designation. Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary of O'Neill.

Be still and know that I am. Timothy Gerald Ruge was born March 26, 1958, in Norfolk, Nebraska, to Melvin and Marie (Faust) Ruge. He attended Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary and Norfolk Public High School. While united in matrimony to Kim Sullivan, two daughters and one son were born. Years later, Tim was again blessed to have had Marlene (Mardi) Planer Hoffmann share her family of four daughters and one son with him for over 11 years. In 2015, Tim married Jean Kloppenborg. Tim retired from Nucor Steel in 2019 after 37 years of employment. Tim was a member of The First United Methodist Church in Plainview, Nebraska.

Tim loved spending time with his children and grandchildren in teaching them about his faith, life values, how to care for his coy and goldfish pond, and pedicuring his lawn. Tim enjoyed restoring lawn statues, watching documentaries, fishing, especially at night, asparagus picking, mushroom hunting, playing with his fury kids, hunting, landscaping his flower beds and fruit trees, and growing large gardens, which he generously shared with friends and neighbors. He was that neighbor who gave of himself to help others mow their yards, move snow, and take time to sit and chat. Tim loved steam engines, golf cart rides with his pups, teasing his cats, riding his skateboard on steroids, seeing God's beauty in life, and studying daily Bible verses. Tim felt blessed to attend grandchildren's church, school, and sport events. When he couldn't attend in person, he caught up via videos. He felt that one of his greatest achievements was being called Grandpa and Pops.

Tim is survived by his wife, Jean of Plainview, NE; children, Selena (Brian) Ickler of rural Plainview, NE, Sonja (Shawn) Cernick of Woonsocket, SD, Derreck Ruge of Mitchell, SD, Rochelle (Jerry) Nuttleman of Omaha, NE, Buffy (Gerald) Garnett of Stephens City, VA, Dawn (Mark) Trowbridge of Canton, SD, Frank (Tammy) Planer of Norfolk, NE, and Tandi (Greg) Butler of Leesburg, VA; 20 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; brother, Ronald (Barbara) Ruge of Stuart, FL; sister, Shirley (Robert) Schiffbauer of Lincoln, NE; mother-in-law, Helen Kloppenborg of O'Neill, NE; sisters-in-law, Caroline Ruge Lydik of Norfolk, NE, Kelly Ruge of Norfolk, NE, JoAnn Barker of York, NE, Janice (John) Peregoy of Coleridge, NE, Joyce (Todd) Miller of Emmet, NE, Jill (Kent) Fox of Stuart, NE, Julie Joyce of Wausa, NE; brothers-in-law, James (Susan) Kloppenborg of Emmet, NE, Jerald Kloppenborg of O'Neill, NE and Jeffrey Kloppenborg of Elisabeth, CO; many nieces and nephews and extended family; friends, Clint and Wanda Post of Plainview, NE. and Doug Pinkleman of Plainview, NE.

Tim was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Marie Ruge; brothers, Samuel Ruge and James (Jimmy) Ruge, all of Norfolk, NE; his loving partner, Marlene Hoffmann; father-in-law, Ernest Kloppenborg of O'Neill, NE; and brother-in-law, Fred Barker of Mount Ayr, IA.