William J. Von Ruden, M.D., 85, of Hutchinson, died Nov. 29, 2011, at Hester Care Center. He was born Aug. 3, 1926, in Hampton, Minn., the son of Dr. Herman A. and Elizabeth Reemer Von Ruden.
William grew up in Pontiac, Ill., where he graduated from Pontiac High School in 1944. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944-1946 during WWII, as a radioman on a PBM naval aircraft. Following the war, he completed his pre-med courses at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill. and then received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1952 from the University of Illinois in Chicago. He completed his internship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago in 1954, and set up practice as a general practitioner at the Mayer Clinic in Shawano, Wis. In 1961, he moved to San Francisco, completing a general surgery residency at the University of California Hospital in 1966. Dr. Von Ruden practiced general and vascular surgery in Hutchinson from 1966-1984, where he performed the first pacemaker insertion at Hutchinson Hospital. After retirement from his surgical practice, he worked in emergency medicine for several years, until he retired permanently from medicine in 1999, after suffering from a stroke.

Dr. Von Ruden was a member of Phi Rho Sigma social fraternity and Pi Kappa Epsilon honorary fraternity at the University of Illinois. He was also a member of the Walter Reed Society for Research, American Medical Association, the Kansas Medical Society, and Nafzinger Surgical Society of the University of California. He became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of American Board of Surgeons, the Southwestern Surgical Society, and the Board of Directors of Hutchinson Hospital. Additionally, he was President of the Reno County Cancer Society, State President of the Kansas Heart Association, and President of the Reno County Medical Society. He was instrumental in starting the E.M.S. program for Hutchinson Hospital and Reno County. He belonged to Kiwanis Club International and was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. Dr. Von Ruden has a passion for music, and jazz in particular, and was highly influenced by the jazz scene in Chicago. He played the tenor saxophone from high school throughout his life and was also an excellent pianist. He was a co-founder of the jazz studies program at Hutchinson Community College, and was very active in the local Kix Jazz Band. He regularly attended the International Jazz Educators Convention. Dr. Von Ruden took great pleasure in working with young people. He taught the first EMT classes at HCC and the hospital. He was very involved with the Jazz Studies Program at HCC. He was a sports enthusiast and enjoyed playing basketball until his mid 50's, where he encouraged many young basketball players on the basketball court in his backyard. He will also be remembered for his wonderful sense of fun and humor.

On June 3, 1981, he married JoAnn McCrory Bevan, and they continued to live in Hutchinson, where they enjoyed family, friends, music, sports and travel. After retirement, they moved to Wesley Towers Retirement Community. He is survived by his wife, JoAnn "Jody"; a son, Bill Von Ruden Jr. and wife, Lori of Marysville, Wash.; a daughter, Elizabeth "Libby" Domann and husband Dave of Doylestown, Pa.; a stepson, Clark Bevan of Vallejo, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Susan Carden of Lawrence; six grandchildren, Kate Lytle and husband Jay of Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., Anne Domann of Fariway, John Domann of Lawrence, Melissa Hedgcoth and husband Jon, Michelle Hansen and husband Michael, and Mitchell Von Ruden, all of Marysville, Wash.; five step grandchildren, Laura Ruffennach and husband John of Fountain, Colo., Kent Bevan of Fairfield, Calif., Diana Bevan of Vallejo, Calif., Julie Carden of Welda, and Chris Carden of Lawrence; and two great-grandchildren, Jennifer and Emily Ruffennach. Dr. Von Ruden was preceded in death by his parents; and three sisters, Louise Neafsey, Dorothy Rogers, and Betty Odell.

Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, at Elliott Mortuary, with Reverend Pat Ault-Duell presiding. A private family inurnment will be in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum, Hutchinson. A register book can be signed from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. The family will greet friends prior to the memorial service on Saturday morning. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Hutchinson Community College Endowment Association - Jazz Studies Scholarship Program, Wesley Towers - Good Samaritan Fund, or Trinity United Methodist Church, sent in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501