John L. Ruzich

October 11, 1920 to May 5, 2020

John L. Ruzich, 99, passed peacefully from this life on Tuesday, May 5th under the loving care of the nursing staff at Good Samaritan Society, Davenport, and Genesis Hospice.

Due to the pandemic, there will be no services at this time. Family and friends will be invited to attend a celebration of life to be held in his honor at a later date. Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home in Davenport is assisting the family with arrangements.

John would have celebrated his 100th birthday on October 11th of this year. He was the youngest in a family of six born to Croatian immigrants Mr. and Mrs. George Ruzich in Matherville, Illinois. He graduated from Sherrard High School and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was employed at the Farmall Works in Rock Island and then proudly wore the badge and uniform of the Davenport Police Department. Corporal Ruzich retired in 1975 after 20 years of service to the community that was his home for 68 years.

John met Irene Kinley while dancing to big band music at the Coliseum Ballroom in Davenport. They married on April 19, 1952 at Holy Family Church in Davenport and were inseparable for 43 years. Together, they parented Irene’s son, Richard Kinley, and their daughter, Teresa.

John was a lifetime Chicago Cubs fan and cheered his team to a World Series victory.  He had a lifelong interest in studying history, especially the Civil War years. He enjoyed watching television and feature films. “Titanic” was one of his favorites. He looked forward to meeting up with fellow retired police officers over a meal or a cup of coffee, fed the birds and wildlife at Davenport’s parks and in his own backyard, adopted rescue dogs, sang to brighten the day of others, and loved his family.

John is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and John LaBella of Caledonia, Nova Scotia, Canada; granddaughters Tracy Kinley-Fisher and Julie Kinley Keimig, both of Davenport and Kelly Kinley Hughes, Spanish Fort, Alabama; 9 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren; nieces Pat Ruzich Klick, Buffalo Grove, Illinois, and Francie Maurice, Canton, Illinois and nephew Steve Ruzich, Boston, Massachusetts.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene Kinley Ruzich; son Richard Kinley; brothers, Fred and Ernest Ruzich and sisters, Mary Ruzich, Amelia Witherspoon and Margaret Nolan; and nephew, Mark Witherspoon.