HAROLD A. "HAL" RUESCH, age 93 (three months short of being 94), lifelong resident of Skokie, Joachim and Martha's youngest child was born February 1, 1920 in Niles Center, Illinois, and went to be with his Lord on November 6, 2013, while in the Memory Care Unit of Presbyterian Homes, Evanston, IL.

WHAT PRECIOUS REUNIONS AWAIT US IN HEAVEN....

Beloved husband of the late Jacqueline, nee Rothschild, his wife of 49 years. He and Jacque were married in 1956; loving father of Theresa (Jeff) Stielow, Martha (James) Mazur and Susan (Thomas) Schmidt; dear grandfather of Melissa and Cassandra Mazur, Christopher and Jennifer Stielow; preceded in death by his brothers, Elmer, Walter and Theodore, and his sisters, Florence, Irene, Grace, Elizabeth, Jeanette and Evelyn.

A little more than a year after his birth, Harold's father, employed as a carpenter, would pass away on April 10, 1921, leaving Harold with few remembrances of him.

During his confirmation on March 25, 1934, Rev. Winger wrote down comments about his students. Harold was "impatient". Rev. Winger drew their Confirmation Life Verses out of a box or hat, and Harold's was Rev. 2:10, "Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life." (NLT) While taking prenuptial lessons from a Catholic priest, the priest said that Harold was an upright young man and was impressed with his knowledge of the Bible.

Harold served in the U.S. Army during WW II as a Mechanic on Jeeps, etc. His entire 85th Infantry Division sailed back home on the USS West Point AP-23 "The Grey Ghost", which never lost a single passenger to hostile action, nor suffered one breakdown, (commissioned June 16, 1941 through 1946).

Harold's dream, along with his friend from Niles Center, was to be a pilot, but his need for glasses squelched that dream. His friend, First Lieutenant Nicholas "Nicky" Glod (Nov 1919 - May 30, 1944), a high school graduate in 1940, entered the U. S. Army Air Forces from 7819 Niles Center Road, Niles, IL, where he and his parents, John & Anna, siblings Lula/Lulu & Albert Adolph, had lived since at least 1930, did become a pilot, but during an air show for dignitaries in Italy, where Harold, a Corporal, was also stationed, his plane crashed and he was killed, age 24 years, 6 months. Harold did not tell his three daughters and their families about Nicky's tragedy until the CHRISTmas after his beloved Jacque passed away. There was not a dry eye among them.

Harold played golf in his younger years and was a golf caddy (probably because his older brother, Wally, was a golf pro), then worked for his brother-in-law, Al Schey, at Al's gas station as an attendant. While working there, he reported a fire across the street. He worked for Western Electric and Illinois Bell, where he saw Jacque in the lunch room one day, asked, "who is that girl?" because it was love at first sight. He retired in 1982.

Harold was quiet, but alive, modest, witty, self-deprecating, with an independent spirit, and considerate--shoveling his neighbors' snow, etc. He and Jacque tended the graves, and he took the grandkids with him sometimes. He was considered the Ruesch Family Historian and was proud of the part the Ruesch family played in Skokie history, letting us know that the black-haired Ruesch's were no relation. His self-analysis was that he was a "nut", because he though his interests were unusual and not many others shared them. In 2009, he quoted Milton from a high school memory; he had remarkable recall. He liked to keep his cars clean and polished. He was a Cubs fan; they were a winning team when he was a teenager in the 1930s and in 1945. He appreciated the Church softball team and kept up with them through the church newsletter. He called his caregivers his guardian angels. Sometimes when his pastor would bring communion to Presbyterian Homes, Harold had already taken communion in the chapel there.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter's United Church of Christ, 8013 Laramie Ave., Skokie, IL, 60077.

Visitation: Monday, November 18, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Haben Funeral Home & Crematory, 8057 Niles Center Rd., Skokie.

Services: Lying-in-state Tuesday, November 19, from 10:30 a.m. until time of Funeral Service, 11 a.m., at St. Peter's United Church of Christ, Oakton St. at Laramie Ave., Skokie. Interment St. Peter's United Church of Christ Cemetery, Skokie. There was a luncheon after the graveside service with military taps and folding of the flag at Massiano's Italian Restaurant, Skokie, followed by a family gathering at the Mazur home where Harold's sister, Jeannette & Al Schey had lived when it was a one-story home, and was remodeled by Harold's son-in-law, Jim (Marty) Mazur to a two-story with an added "Great Room", etc.

Harold's four grandchildren each shared parts of Harold's life at the service. At the end of Harold's funeral service, the church bell tolled nine times, one for each full decade of his earthly life, rounding down from 92.