Roger Ruelin 06/23/2018

Roger Michael Ruelin passed away in Menomonie, WI on June 23rd, 2018.
He was born on June 24th, 1952 in St. Paul, MN. When he was in grade school his family relocated to Hudson, WI where he lived for most of his life. In 2005 he and his wife Melanie moved to the Superior, WI area where they resided for 10 years and then moved to the Menomonie area to be near family. Roger was an avid outdoorsman from an early age. He enjoyed grouse hunting with his dad and cousin and began deer hunting when he was 12. His love of the outdoors and hunting took him to Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Canada pursuing deer, elk, antelope, bear, pheasant and grouse. As much as he loved the hunt, he truly appreciated the beauty of the wilderness and frequently commented that he was born in the wrong century. He was a mountain man at heart.
Not long after his family moved to Hudson his parents bought a home on the St. Croix river and Roger said he was like a kid in a candy store. He began fishing the river for walleye and crappie and rarely came home empty handed. It’s hard to say which he enjoyed more, fishing or hunting. There’s no doubt that when he moved north the walleye in his St. Croix honey hole celebrated. His fishing fever led him on trips to Canada for walleye and Florida for deep sea fishing.
In high school Roger participated in wrestling, football and track. He enjoyed downhill skiing and hang gliding, until his instructor was killed while gliding and he decided he may have pushed his luck far enough. He was always up for an adventure and his family loved hearing him tell stories about his experiences.
Roger was a carpenter by trade, building many beautiful homes in the Hudson area. He had a knack for picking a building site, designing a home, and constructing it on the perfect spot on the site. He eventually switched to commercial construction and worked for Kraus-Anderson until his retirement.
Those who loved him will miss his laugh, his sense of humor, his story telling abilities and his Rogerisms–an uncanny ability to mangle words and still make sense. Though he never had children of his own he was a caring stepdad to Melanie’s three kids and a loving grandfather.
Roger is survived by his wife, Melanie (Larson); children, Eric Sikveland (Anne), Sarah Hitzeman (Ryan), Andrew Sikveland; granddaughters, Payge and Irys Hitzeman, great-granddaughter, Lula Hitzeman; sister, Cindy Cargill (Robin). He was preceded in death by his parents, Warner and Jean Ruelin and his loyal and loving golden retriever, Jesse.
Because Roger believed that his God was most present when he was out in nature, whether hunting in the mountains, or fishing rivers and lakes, he will be cremated, and his ashes returned to nature, at a special spot that was dear to his heart. He will be missed and live on in our hearts.  Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services of Baldwin.