Franklin J. Ruck

Frank Ruck, 97, of Ocala, FL, formally of Atlantic Highlands, NJ, peacefully passed away on Oct. 24, 2022. Frank was born in Newark, NJ to Anna Roth and Joseph F. Ruck on March 12, 1925. He attended Middletown High School and graduated in 1943. Upon graduating, he enlisted in the US Army. Frank was a Technician Fourth Grade in 336th Engineer Combat Battalion. Where he fought in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. Frank received the Bronze Arrow Head, the Victory Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Ribbon, and Good Conduct medal. After the war Frank came home to marry Bernadette (Bernie) McNicholl, his high school sweetheart, on April 27, 1945. The couple settled in Leonardo, NJ to raise their family. Frank worked at Art Color Printing Co. of Dunellen, NJ as a pressman. In the early 1960’s Frank opened Frank’s Bicycle Shop in Leonardo with his late wife Bernadette. They moved to a larger shop on First Avenue in Atlantic Highlands where they ran a successful business for 25 years. When they retired, they enjoyed their camping trips across the United States, finally settling in Ocala, FL in 1988. Frank is lovingly survived by his children, Linda Meyer and her husband Randall Schmid; Judith Rapolla, Franklin Ruck and his wife Ellen, and Michael Ruck, brother Herbert Groener and his wife Gail E. Mueller; grandchildren Daniel Manailovich and his husband Ric Palmeri, Pamela and her husband Jim Battersby, Sandra and her husband Chris Venuto, Jessica and her husband Michael English, Dan Rapolla and his wife Melanie, Bernadette and her husband Doug McKenzie, Vincent Rapolla and his wife Meredith, Carmela and her husband Anthony Jabbour, Aaron Wolfe and his wife Jessica; He was blessed with 12 great-children Tyler Valentino, Samantha and Chase Battersby; Anna, Kayden, and Sarah McKenzie; Grace and Emily Rapolla; Samantha and Alyssa Jabbour; Ryan and Emma Wolfe. He is predeceased by his wife Bernadette; brother Roy Groener and sister-in-law Dorothy; and a son Thomas Ruck and granddaughter Judy Rapolla. A Memorial Service and celebration of life will be held in Ocala in March 2023.

Franklin J. Ruck

March 12, 1925 - October 24, 2022