William "Willie" Ruzicka

William "Willie" Ruzicka of Pine City passed away at the Golden Living Center in Rush City on Saturday, July 23, 2016 at the age of 91 years. William Robert Ruzicka was born May 4, 1925 in Grasston, Minnesota to William T. and Anna (Shir) Ruzicka. He grew up in this area and attended school at Sunnyside Country School west of Pine City. Due to his father's ill health, Willie started to work on the family farm at an early age. Farming became his career and for 47 years he worked as a farm hand in the Pine City and Rush City areas. For 28 years, Willie worked on the Johnston farm in Rock Creek and became like family. He came there on a Thanksgiving Day and stayed to help with chores around the place. A quiet man who kept to himself, Willie loved being on the farm and he loved animals. He also worked for several years for Roy Anderson at the sales barn in Pine City. Willie liked to watch shows and baseball on the TV and listen to the Twins on the radio. He also liked to listen to country music on the radio and cassette player. He enjoyed looking at the flowers planted on the farm. He liked the many dogs on the farm and they followed him all over. Most of all he LOVED to eat. There wasn't anything he didn't eat. After the Johnston's sold their farm in 2003, Willie moved to an apartment in Pine City. Due to poor health, Willie entered the Golden Living Center in Rush City and resided there until his death. Willie is survived by his sisters Adeline Norberg of Mora, Agnes Nelson of East Bethel, Dorothy Stransky of Cold Spring and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents William T. and Anna Ruzicka, brother George Ruzicka; sisters Helen (Arnold) Brede and Gladys (Arnold) Schultz, brothers-in-law Joel Nordberg and George Nelson; nephew Jerry Nordberg. Pastor Rob Spahr will officiate at funeral services for Willie: 2:00 PM Wednesday, July 27, 2016 with a time of visitation and reviewal planned for one hour prior to the service all at the Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City. Music will be provided by Wyatt "Willie" Frietag. Casket bearers will include Gordon Nelson, Boyd Johnson, Dena Reiners, Mike Grainer, Debra Zimmer and Jan Twingstrom. The interment will take place at Birchwood Cemetery in Pine City. Funeral arrangements for Willie Ruzicka of Pine City and Grasston are entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City; Swanson Chapel.   www.funeralandcremationservice.com