Rueben P. Muske, 86, St. Joseph

April 1, 1931 - July 17, 2017

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, July 21st, at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in St. Joseph for Rueben P. Muske, age 86, of St. Joseph, who died on Monday at the Assumption Nursing Home in Cold Spring. Rev. Jerome Tupa OSB will officiate. Burial will be in the Parish Cemetery. Friends may call on Thursday between 4:00-7:00 PM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in St. Joseph.

Rueben was born on April 1st, 1931, the third of five children of Frank and Matilda “Tillie” (Kalla) Muske in Albany, Minnesota. He married his childhood sweetheart, Bernice Overman, on September 28th, 1950, a marriage that grew to a family of nine children and lasted 66 years, much of it spent on a tract of land south of St. Joseph in a converted one-room schoolhouse.

To support his family Rueben worked in transportation, first driving truck and then, in 1964, he started a career driving bus and then managing the transportation of St. Ben's, first at the convent and then the college, where he worked until he retired in 1993. His relationships with the Sisters of St. Benedict were always special to him when working for the convent and he was instrumental in starting the regular bus service that joined St. Ben's with St. John's.

He had many passions in life, beginning with his love of polka music. He taught himself to play the accordion and for many years accompanied many songfests with his playing. KASM Radio: He was your biggest fan! Getting together was important to him and so family, neighbors and friends were always welcome for celebrations throughout his and Bernice's life.

Having grown up on a farm he loved to tend animals, mostly raising chickens and geese and he grew an orchard of apple trees. Tending to his land was important to him and it was always meticulously cared for. Later on he loved going to the casino with Bernice for little getaways.

Survivors include his children, Carol Theisen (Jim) St. Cloud, Daniel Muske (Linda) St. Joseph, Sue Gaebel (Randy Weishalla) St. Cloud, Donald Muske (Paula) St. Paul, Chuck Muske (Diane) St. Joseph, Steve Muske (Tracy) St. Joseph, Bill Muske (Elizabeth) Plymouth, Tim Muske (Shelly) St. Joseph, Tom Muske, St. Joseph, 17 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, sisters, Patty Koglin, Paynesville and Gloria Essler (Bob) Sauk Centre.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Bernice, January 23rd, 2017, sister, Jeanette Winters, brother, Mervin Muske, daughter-in-law, Maxine Hodge Muske, brother-in-laws Ray Koglin and Cyril Winters, sister-in-law, Lenora Muske.

The Muske family wants to thank the staffs at Heartland Hospice and Assumption Nursing Home. These nurses and aides both helped Rueben and Bernice in their final days and the family is very thankful for their efforts.