Charles Wesley Ruggles, age 72, passed away on September 1, 2023. He was born June 13, 1951, to Edward Elihu and Betsy Rose Crawford Ruggles in Atlantic, Iowa. Wes was the fourth son born to them. He grew up in Anita, Iowa, with six brothers and one sister. He attended Anita Elementary and high school.
Wes graduated with the class of 1970 from Anita High School. The graduation was one of the last held at the Wiota High School gymnasium.
After graduating from high school, Wes went to Northwest Missouri State College in Maryville, MO. He received his Bachelor’s degree in 1975 in Physical Education and Health and continued working on his Master’s in Counseling which he received in 1977.
While attending college, he met Kathryn Lee Oloff, and on August 22, 1975, they were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Persia. To this union, two children were born: Jessica Lee Ruggles Thomas and Joel Wesley Ruggles.
While attending college, Wesley and Kathy began their teaching careers at St. Gregory Catholic School in Maryville, Missouri. Wes taught the junior high boys physical education classes, and Kathy taught the girls physical education classes. After graduating, Wesley and Kathy began teaching at Southeast Nebraska Consolidated School in Stella, Nebraska. Wes was the guidance counselor for the school. After three years in NE, they moved back to Iowa, and Wes taught at many different schools, including Walnut, Panora-Linden, Woodbine, Logan-Magnolia, Harlan, and Underwood. He retired from Underwood High School in 2009 after 12 years as the 7-12 guidance counselor.
Wes was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Persia. He held the office of elder for many years for the church.
Wes loved camping, and many trips were made to Lake Anita, Cutty’s of Okoboji, and anywhere there was a camping spot and streets to motorcycle along.
In the summer of 2007, Wes and Kathy purchased motorcycles. This was another journey Wes loved very much. They often enjoyed rides together on their candy red motorcycles before upgrading to Harley-Davidson. They loved cycling! The annual trip to Deadwood, SD, to attend the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was an event Wes looked forward to each year. But when his grandson, Charlie, was born, motorcycle riding was second to watching Charlie. Wes loved Charlie with all his heart and did anything Charlie wanted him to do! Then Hazel Marie was born, and she had Papa wrapped around her little finger!
Wes was preceded in death by his mother, Betsy Rose Crawford; father, Edward; sister, Jeanne Anne Ruggles; and brother, Timothy Ruggles.
Wes is survived by his wife, Kathy; daughter, Jessica (Kolt) Thomas and son, Joel (Kelsey) and grandson, Charlie Thomas Ruggles and granddaughter, Hazel Marie Ruggles; brothers: James (Sherry) Ruggles; Lawrence (Kathy) Ruggles; Stephen (Aimee) Ruggles; Phillip Ruggles; Bryan (Paula) Ruggles; sisters-in-law Glenora Ruggles and Karen Oloff; brother-in-law Bill (Yvette) Oloff; and many nieces and nephews along with many more relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church on September 04, 2023.
Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church on September 5, 2023. The family will direct memorials
