Kenneth Eugene Ruch, 89, Farmer City, passed away at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday (Feb. 18, 2014) at the Farmer City Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.

His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home, Farmer City, with the Rev. Jeremiah Thompson officiating. Burial will be in Greenleaf Cemetery, Farmer City. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Weedman United Methodist Church for missions, Alzheimer's Association, The Salvation Army or donor’s choice.

Kenneth was born March 15, 1924, in McLean County, a son of George W. and Lora D. Swigart Ruch. He married Elnor H. Glawe on Nov. 30, 1946, in DeWitt.

He is survived by his wife, Elnor H. Ruch, Farmer City; two sons, Paul D. (Lisa) Ruch, Champaign, and Phillip L. (Shelley) Ruch, Lincoln; a daughter, Peggy M. (Rick) Winford, Duncanville, Texas; one grandson, Richard Winford, Duncanville, Texas; and one brother, Charles E. Ruch, St. Charles, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two infant brothers; a younger brother, Richard D. Ruch; and a sister, Marjorie Shaw.

Kenneth was a 1942 graduate of Moore Township High School, Farmer City. He attended the University of Illinois before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1945, serving in the occupation of Japan. He returned home to farm in Farmer City in 1947. In 1951, Kenneth and his brother-in-law, Howard Glawe, began farming the High Crib Hog Farm in Macon. He returned to the Farmer City area in 1958, and farmed at LeRoy until retiring in 1996.

Kenneth was a member of Weedman United Methodist Church, serving as Sunday school teacher, choir director and lay leader. Kenneth was on the Farmer City School Board, holding several offices including board president. Kenneth loved to sing and sang with men’s quartets throughout his life.