Byron Douglas (Barney) (1949-2022)

RUITER, GELNER, LENNING, CLAUSSEN

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 11/29/2022 at 13:41:06

Byron Douglas Ruiter
September 2, 1949 ~ July 18, 2022

Byron Douglas “Barney” Ruiter, 72 of Forest City, Iowa, passed away on Monday, July 18, 2022, at MercyOne Medical Center North Iowa in Mason City, Iowa.

Barney was born on September 2, 1949, to Willie and Vera (Gelner) Ruiter at the Irish Hospital in Forest City, Iowa. He attended Forest City Schools, graduating in 1967. On August 27, 1969, he was inducted into the United States Army. Serving his country, during the Vietnam Era, he worked as an Occupational Therapist in a hospital in Denver, Colorado, and El Paso, Texas. On May 29, 1971, he was honorably discharged. On May 24, 1974, Barney married Barbara Fank, the love of his life, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Britt, Iowa.

In 1971, Barney began working with the City of Forest City. Three years later, he was promoted to Superintendent of Streets and Sanitation. In 2014, he retired from this position after forty-three years of service. Currently, he was serving as Mayor of Forest City.

Committed to helping others, Barney dedicated twenty-six and a half years to the Forest City Fire Department. Indeed, he enjoyed helping people and fighting fires. Moreover, he valued the comradery and friendships he made through this organization. A member for forty-two years, he truly cherished his involvement with American Legion Post #121 in Forest City. Currently, he was serving as Adjutant, a position he had held for several years. In the past, he had held the position of Commander along with several others. In addition, every year, he took charge of placing American Flags throughout the community for several events including for the WIT Rally, Memorial Day, Flag Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Veterans Day. Proudly, he served on the American Legion Honor Guard. Moreover, he enjoyed flipping pancakes at the monthly breakfast.

Through the years, Barney served on many committees and boards. The most notable include the Winnebago County Conference Board, the Landfill of North Iowa Board, the Winnebago County Veterans Affairs Board, and the Forest City Rotary. In 2017, he won the KIMT Giving Your Best award and most notably the John K. and Luise C. Hanson Lifetime Achievement Award. A lifelong member of St. James Catholic Church, he served as an Offertory Lay Minister. In addition, he contributed to and volunteered for various boards too numerous to mention. through the years and too many volunteer hours to count.

Barney contributed so very much to making Forest City an enjoyable place in which to live, work, and play. His imprint on our lives will continue to live on, and we will certainly all deeply miss him.

When not working, Barney enjoyed camping, fishing, trips to Lake Pepin, Minnesota, family trips to Minnesota Twins games, and traveling with his wife Barb, most notably to Alaska, Italy, Cancun, and numerous times to Florida.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Ruiter of Forest City; his children: Patrick (Merriya) Ruiter, of Mason City, Cindy (Robb Lenning) Ruiter, of Clear Lake, and a granddaughter, Lilly Ruiter, of Forest City; a brother, Jack (Marie) Ruiter, of Northwood; and a sister, Debb (Jeff) Claussen, of Blaine, Minnesota; as well as by nieces, nephews, and countless co-workers and friends.

Ruiter, Byron Douglas (Barney). Schott Funeral Homes, Forest City & Lake Mills, Iowa. 2022.