Mathias M. Ruba's Obituary
Son of Mathias Ruba and Lena Kramer, he was raised on a farm in Iowa with a large family. At the age of 18, he volunteered and served in the Army in WWII. On May 5, 1941, he served as a cook in the Philippines until 1942, when he was captured and spent one year in the Philippines in a prison camp by the Japanese. He was in the Bataan March and sent to Japan, where he spent two and a half years in a prison camp. He was released in 1945 and was honorably discharged in 1946. He returned to Iowa and worked as a carpenter, then moved to California in 1947.He is preceded by his wife of 48 years, Mary K. Ruba. He is survived by three daughters: Barbara Ramirez of Placerville, Susan Porte of Livermore, and Kay Shepard of Livermore; seven grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandson. A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 1:30 pm at Chapel of the Chimes, 32992 Mission Blvd, Hayward, CA 94544.
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