Robert “Bob” John Ruden, age 83, of Marcus, Iowa, passed away peacefully on September 4, 2026, in Paullina, Iowa, where he was a campground host with his wife, Vickie. He was a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend to all. He will be missed by those lucky enough to have known him.

Private burial with family will take place in Holy Name Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Marcus, Iowa. www.fischfh.com

Celebration of life will be 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, September, 26, 2026 at the The Old Panhead Restaurant & Lounge, 314 N Main Street in Marcus, Iowa.

Bob was born to Arnold and Florentine (Schreier) Ruden of Marcus, Iowa, on March 10, 1943. Bob grew up on the Ruden family farm a mile north of Marcus and was the second oldest of nine kids. That meant there wasn’t always a lot of extra money, so Bob and his siblings had to make their own fun. The red hair he was born with might have been the first indication that he’d be ornery and grow into an adult who enjoyed practical jokes and giving people a hard time.

At the same time, hard work was a part of life growing up. He was never afraid to roll up his sleeves and do what needed to be done. He often told stories about re-sharpening razor blades and using everything but the squeal when they butchered pigs.

After graduating from Holy Name Catholic High School in 1962, Bob worked as a carpenter and married Karen Recker. Together, they raised four kids in Marcus while Bob worked for 38 years at the Marcus Co-op Elevator. During these years, Bob was active on the volunteer Marcus Fire Department, responding to fire and rescue calls at all hours of the day and night and taking pride in being the first guy to the station when a call came in.

Bob also enjoyed being outdoors while hunting and fishing with his kids, brothers, and friends. He could often be found with a beer in one hand and a fishing pole in the other. Fishing and hunting trips took him all over the states of Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Montana. His face lit up when these stories were mentioned, and he could talk and laugh about them for hours. They usually started with, “What about the time…”

After raising his family, Bob got a second chance at love and found the love of his life, Vickie, and they married on January 25, 1997. Bob and Vickie spent many years in their fifth wheel camper traveling throughout the United States. Their love of camping led them to become the hosts of the Mill Creek State Park campground in Paullina, Iowa, a job they’ve enjoyed for the past 19 years.

During this time, Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but not even Parkinson’s could slow him down. Everyone at the campground would recognize Bob as the man driving the golf cart and delivering firewood to fellow campers. He was a “professional friend” and would make sure to stop by and see you the next time you were there. In Marcus, Bob could still be seen driving around town on his red scooter, and he truly appreciated the helpfulness of the local businesses that let him keep some of his independence as he got older.

His memory will be cherished and kept alive by his wife of 29 years, Vickie, of Marcus, Iowa, his children, Roger (Susanne) Ruden of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Karla Ruden of Ames, Iowa, Daniel (Ding) Dizon of San Diego, California, daughter-in-law Teri Phelan-Ruden (Jeff) of Waukee, Iowa, and 8 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren, and siblings Rich (Debbie), Margie Schroeder, Fred, Ron (Nadine), Denny (Bonnie), Kathy Steffen, and sisters-in-law Diane Ruden and Wendy (Keith) Hauschildt.

Bob is preceded in death by his son, Jeff, his parents, his brothers, Jim and Pete, brother-in-law Phil Schroeder, and grandchildren, Jerrica and Aiden.