APRIL 26, 2017
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WHITE BEAR/VADNAIS HEIGHTS PRESS
3A
OBITUARY NOTICES
Dr. Cora Jane (Brabazon) Ruhr
Alta V. Colaizy
David E. Nordstrom
Dr. Cora Jane (Brabazon) Ruhr, 82, formerly of White Bear Lake, passed away on April 4, 2017 in Sedona, Arizona, following a 4-year battle with melanoma. Cora was born in Chula Vista, California, and received her B.S. degree in Physics from San Diego State University. While she was a student at SDSU, she worked at Convair as a draftsman on designs for the fi rst Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile. She then received her Doctor of Optometry degree from UC Berkeley. Her passion for travel led her to join Northwest Airlines as a flight attendant so she could travel the world before settling down to start her own optometric practice in 1962, on Fourth Street in White Bear Lake where she shared office space with Dr. Roy (“Pete”) Peterson. At that time, she was the only practicing woman optometrist in Minnesota. In 1973, she was appointed to the Minnesota State Board of Optometry by Gov. Wendell Anderson, and she was elected Chair of the Board in 1976. She is still the only woman ever to have served as chair of the Minnesota State Board. She later purchased the former “Kohler’s Romance Ice Cream Parlor” on Washington Avenue, which she renovated into the present-day White Bear Optical. Cora was active on the White Bear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, where she was instrumental in the creation of both Washington Square Park, and the weekly Farmers’ Markets on Washington Square. Cora was an active outdoorswoman from an early age, becoming an accomplished surfer, scuba diver, sailor, tennis player and skier, and an avid hiker. She later became an enthusiastic private airplane pilot, owning and flying several planes with her husband Chuck Ruhr, whom she married in 1962. Their fi rst home after marriage was a boat, a retired 80-foot, 80-ton, river cruiser and World War II patrol boat that had recently been moved to a lot in the woods near Marine on St. Croix and then abandoned. She and her husband bought and restored the boat and lived there with their two children and two St. Bernards for seven years. They later bought and restored a lovely home at 5 Clark Ave. in White Bear Lake. Cora was delighted she was able to live on a lake in a wonderful small town and walk to work every day. She became an avid sailor, and was known for her uncanny ability to “turtle” her red Hobie Cat during weekend regattas on the lake. Her children remember that during their White Bear Lake years, the family lacked basic furniture in their house, but had two cats, two dogs, two white rats, two parakeets, two turtles, innumerable goldfi sh, and five horses who lived on several hundred acres of land in the Black Hills of South Dakota, as well as a small airplane to fly to “the ranch” for weekend camping trips, to visit grandparents in South Dakota and California, and to fly to the Rockies for skiing in the Winter. As Cora explained later, “We had priorities. Furniture was not one of them.” They later moved to a farm in Forest Lake, where they established Blueblood Arabians, which became a nationally-recognized Arabian horse breeding operation. And they acquired two sofas. After retiring, Cora moved to Sedona, Arizona, where she could hike year-round. She became an expert on local geology, writing several publications for visiting tourists. From her base in Sedona she traveled widely, including recent visits to Cuba, Turkey, India, Peru, and Antarctica. Cora was preceded in death by her son, Christopher Ruhr, who died in a traffic accident in Taiwan while working as business journalist for an American publication. She is survived by her former husband and best friend, Charles (Chuck) Ruhr, daughter Ann Ruhr Pifer, son-in-law Steven Wilmot, grandsons Christopher Pifer (21), Samuel Wilmot (16), and Owen Pifer (13), and dear friend and travel companion John Shiner. A celebration of Cora’s life will be held on May 4, 11-1 p.m., at Kellermans’ Event Center, 2222 Fourth St., White Bear Lake, MN 55110. Memorials preferred to the Christopher Ruhr Memorial Scholarship Fund, St. Paul Academy and Summit School, 1712 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, MN, 55105.
November 25, 1916 to April 18, 2017 Age 100 of White Bear Lake Passed away April 18 at Cerenity White Bear Lake Care Center She is preceded in death by her husband Arthur of 61 years, her parents Elma and Frank Austin and brother Keith Austin. Alta is survived by her brother Neil Austin of Portland, Oregon, sons James (Sandi) and Paul (Jacquelyn), granddaughters Cascia Berman (Brian), Lyndsay Kirby (Steve), Jessica Munson (Mike) and Jenna Harting (Asa), and great-grandchildren: Calleigh Christine Berman, Mia Alta Berman, Marco Cruz Kirby and Ruby Joy Kirby. Alta is also survived by step-grandchildren: Inga Swope (Chris), Hans Flegle (Candi) and Erika Unze (Jason), and step great-grandchildren: Skylar Swope, Keenan Swope, Jordyn Swope, Gage Flegle, Oak Unze and Olive Unze. Alta is survived by many loving nieces and nephews. A celebration of Alta's life was held at St. Stephen Lutheran Church on April 21, 2017 where she and Art were longtime, active members. The family wishes to thank Pastor James Woodruff and Pastor Susan Schoon for thoughtfully officiating her lovely service and for ministering to Alta over the past several years. They would also like to thank family members, church family and friends who were so much a part of Alta's full life. The family would especially like to thank the staff at Cerenity Care Center White Bear Lake for their compassionate care. Private inurnment at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.
Hometown Hero Age 74, formerly of White Bear Lake Preceded in death by proud parents Edward E. and Evelyn M. (Lavallee) Nordstrom; daughter Melissa (Nordstrom) Snook. Survived by the mother of his children, Nita Nordstrom; sons Jamie E. and Michael A. (Barbie) Nordstrom : seven grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, including Gene (Jodie) Sax; Kellie (Shawn) Parades; great-nephew Jonathon Sax; dear friends Charlie Moore, Peter & Cathy Conway and Michael & Anne Scanland. David left White Bear Lake at the age of 17 to enlist in the U.S. Army. After serving 30 years in the military, retiring as a master sergeant, he served 26 years in federal civil service, retiring in 2015 as a deputy director of operations for the CIA. During his tenure with the CIA he was a senior civilian counter-intelligence expert responsible for many of the Army’s most significant and successful counter espionage operations. He was also a member of St. Mary of the Lake Church and attended St. Mary's school and White Bear Lake High School. A burial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Thursday, April 27. Memorials preferred to the American Legion, VFW or Moose Lodge. We will miss you beloved brother of Gloria J. (Nordstrom) Williams and Clarissa A. (Nordstrom) Sax, and many friends around the world.
Catherine Coleman (nee Vennewitz)
“Dedicated To Those We Serve”
Age 92 of White Bear Lake Preceded in death by husband Clarence. Survived by her sister-in-law Judy Vennewitz of White Bear Lake, special nieces: Shannon Bagan of St. Paul and Cathy Davidson of New York and other nieces, nephews and step grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday, April 25 at 10:30 a.m. at Little Sisters of the Poor, 330 South Exchange St., St. Paul, with visitation one hour prior to Mass. Private Burial at Calvary Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to Little Sisters of the Poor.
DEATH NOTICE
Ronald ld H. Sandvig d i Ronald H. Sandvig, 87, of White Bear Lake. Funeral service was April 25 at St. Marks Evangelical Church in North St. Paul. Private interment.
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