Mr. Rueter was a life-long farmer. He also worked at Century Brass Works, Belleville, IL. He was a member of the Glass Molders and Pottery Workers Local #182. He formerly attended St. Pancratius Catholic Church in Fayetteville, IL, and currently was a member of Holy Childhood Catholic Church in Mascoutah, IL. Joseph was a U.S. Army veteran.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Ilene F., nee Lehman, Rueter, whom he married on April 30, 1958, and who died on May 17, 2006; his parents, Joseph J. Sr. and Elizabeth, nee Sandheinrich, Rueter; two brothers, Ralph Rueter and Paul Rueter, in infancy; two sisters, Beatrice (Bill) Breiner and Vera Schubert; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Philip and Irma, nee Bogner, Lehman; brothers-in-law, Ed Krausz, Walter Joffray, Howard Schubert, Don Davis, and Mark Lehman; sisters-in-law, Rosemary Uffelmann, and Glenda Lehman; a niece, Barb Joffray; and a nephew, Dale Schubert.
Surviving are four children, Carolyn Rueter of Mascoutah, IL, Joseph Rueter III, of Mascoutah, IL, Julie Rueter of Mascoutah, IL, and John Rueter of Smithton, IL;
three grandchildren, Joseph Rueter IV, Jennifer (Joe) Deimund, and Megan Rueter;
three great-grandchildren, Mackenzie, Jackson, and Mitchell Deimund;
two sisters, Lucille Joffray of Mascoutah, IL, and Ruth Krausz of Belleville, IL;
sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Dorothy (Ron) Seitz, Willard Uffelmann, Joyce Davis and Katherine Rueter;
and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children or to Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church, Mascoutah, IL. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit with the family from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 23, 2017, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, June 24, 2017, at Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church, Mascoutah, IL. A prayer service will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 24, 2017, at Holy Childhood of Jesus Catholic Church, Mascoutah, IL, with Fr. James Blazine officiating.
Burial will be at Holy Childhood Cemetery, Mascoutah, IL.