Gerald “Jerry” Ruberg, age 86, of Kenosha, died on Sunday, May 14, 2017, at United Hospital Systems-St. Catherine’s Campus.

Born on September 30, 1930, in Kenosha, he was the son of the late Reuben and Marion (Huff) Ruberg.  Jerry attended St. Thomas Aquinas grade school and was a 1948 graduate of Mary D. Bradford High School.

On April 15, 1950, he married Kathryn “Kitty” Vandenberg.  Meeting their sophomore year, they were together since the summer of 1948 and married for 63 years before she preceded him in death on May 22, 2013.

Jerry’s first job after high school was delivering ice. He then went on to Snap-on Tools and Nash Motors in the Planning Department.  In 1951, he enlisted in the U. S. Air Force for a four-year term.  While in the service, he lived in Cape Cod, Alaska and Tampa, FL.

After his discharge from the military, he returned to work for American Motors.  In 1957, he attended computer classes held at AMC and conducted by IBM.  Jerry became one of the first computer programmers in Kenosha.  He remained in the computer field the rest of his career.  He was the Information Systems Manager for over 20 years, retiring in 1987.  Jerry always said, “When they tore down my office, I knew it was time to retire”.

Jerry was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church where he served as a member of the parish council, the parish trustee and treasurer until 2000.  He then joined St. Elizabeth Catholic Church.  Upon his retirement, Jerry became a member of the St. Thomas St. Vincent DePaul Society where he was heavily involved in delivering groceries to those in need.  He also served as treasurer. Upon joining St. Elizabeth, he became a member of their St. Vincent DePaul Conference.  He worked at their food pantry for many years. Jerry also did most of the computer work for the society until his death.  Jerry had also worked at the Shalom Soup Kitchen for 10 years, making soup at home and serving it at the soup kitchen.

Surviving Jerry are his sister, Marilynn Strangberg; step-sister, Jean (Chuck) Nass, sister-in-law, Fran Vandenberg; 13 nieces and nephews, many great and great-great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Kitty and a sister, Phyllis Ruberg Hitchler Millette.

Service Info

Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 19, 2017. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 4817-7th Avenue. Relatives and friends are asked to meet directly at the church for Mass. Interment with full military honors will follow in Sunset Ridge Memorial Park.