John Frederick Nauss Obituary

John Frederick Nauss

John Frederick Nauss, age 78 of Kerrville, passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2008. He was born June 5, 1929 in Glencoe, IL to Rev. Louis Herman Philip Nauss and Ursula Magdalena Johanna Ehrlichmann Nauss. John grew up in Albany, Minnesota where he graduated from high school. He attended Concordia University and received his BS in Education in 1951. Later, he attended American College in Bryn Mawr, PA where he earned his CLU designation. He taught Parochial Schools in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin after graduation.
After a brief period as an Agent with the Aid Association of Lutherans, John joined the Mutual of Omaha Companies as an Associate in the Life Training Department, relocated to Indiana where he was involved in Mutual's Management Development Program. In April of 1960, he was awarded a Mutual of Omaha Companies Franchise in west central Wisconsin, where his Agency was awarded the coveted Presidents Circle Award 14 times. In 1980, John was asked to join the Marketing Staff of the Companies where he remained an Executive Vice President and Director, Mutual Marketing and Special Group Markets Division, until his early retirement at the end of 1987.
John always talked about having a first life in which he spent 25 years with his first wife, Jeanette, with whom he had two children, Philip and Barbara. Son, Philip has 3 children, Leah, Rachel and Jon. Barbara has two children, Morgan and Gunnar. John never missed an opportunity to tell anyone willing to listen about how bright his grandchildren were. In his second life, he married Roberta Ruegnitz and she brought three children to the marriage, Stephanie, Grant and Max. As far as the world was concerned, John always spoke of them as his boys and was so proud when they managed to succeed at something in which he had participated. He gathered 3 more grandchildren in his second life and was so proud and so humble when Grant asked him to be the best man at his wedding. In September 1988, John and his wife, Roberta (Bobbie), moved back to Eau Claire, WI. He resumed most of the activities he had enjoyed so much during the previous 20 years he lived there including the annual trip to Canada to fish with the same group of men, hunting, golf, riding his motorcycle, and active participation in politics. John and Bobbie moved to Kerrville in 1999 after spending five years looking for their retirement spot and never looked back. He loved gardening, even though it involved a continual battle with the deer, and spent hours working on his lawn and flowers. He was an avid reader and life-long student. Even though he left teaching long ago as a profession, the educator in him prevailed. The children all had the benefit of his extensive knowledge of the world and his love of "learning for the sake of learning." Fiercely and tenaciously competitive, he counted devotion to family and church as primary in his daily life. John is a charter member of Peace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, WI and served his various parishes in every capacity. While in Kerrville, as a member of Hosanna Lutheran Church, he served as an Elder, Chairman of the call committee, and chairman of the committee, which rewrote the Constitution and By-Laws. He sang in the choir whenever possible. John is survived by his loving wife, Roberta (Bobbie) Nauss of Kerrville; daughter, Barbara Beth of Egan, MN; step daughter and her husband, Stephanie (Bob) Macy of Ft. Worth, TX; step sons and their wives, Grant (Kathy) Ruegnitz of Menomonie, WI and Max (Ryan) Ruegnitz of Eau Claire, WI; eight grandchildren; sister in law, Shirley Nauss of Brightwood, OR; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Jeanette; brother, James Edward; sister, Louise Burmeister; niece, Sandy and son, Philip. The family is grateful for the loving care provided by Sid Peterson Hospice; staff and volunteers, and caregivers, Kay and Linda. The family will receive visitors Friday evening, 5-7 PM Fuller Speckien Hulke Funeral Home on Friday May 9, 2008. A celebration of his life will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 3214 Golf Road, Eau Claire on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 3 pm. Pastor David K. Anderson will officiate. Friends may call at the church Saturday afternoon from 2 pm until the time of services. Interment will be in the St. John's Cemetery in Krain Township, Albany, MN at 1 pm on Monday May 12, 2008. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Nauss Endowment Scholarship fund at Concordia University, 7400 Augusta St. River Forest, IL 60305. The family invites you to send condolences online at www.fullerspeckienhulke.com. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Fuller Speckien Hulke Funeral Home, 3209 Rudolph Rd, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.