“Mike” Rhuland, age 97, of Pemberville, Ohio, formerly of Bowling Green, died on January 3, 2025 at Otterbein Nursing Neighborhood. Before he moved from his condo in Foxgate, he was recognized by many around the Bowling Green area when he drove his red “popemobile” all over town.
Mike was born May 23, 1927, to Margery (Pfister) and Lowell L. Rhuland, Sr. He grew up in a farmhouse on Old State Line Rd. in Western Lucas County, working the farm with his parents.
His education began in a one room schoolhouse and ended with his graduation from Swanton High School in 1945. Mike had a great singing voice and sang in his first quartet in 1942. He continued to sing in barbershop quartets and choruses until he was 80 years old.
Following graduation from high school, he immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Gunston Hall until 1946.
After being discharged from the Navy, he and his parents bought a Hardware Store in Willshire, Ohio. There he met Suzanne Cowan, who after her graduation from High School, attended Nursing School in Lima Ohio. Having earned his pilot’s license at a young age, Mike would often fly to Lima to visit Sue. They were married on March 8, 1953 in Willshire.
Mike was very proud to be commissioned as an Ohio State Highway Patrolman in 1956. He was stationed in Defiance and Walbridge and served until 1962.
When he was transferred to the Walbridge Post, Mike and Sue designed and helped to build their home in Moline, where they raised their three children. Sue served as a public health nurse for Lake Local Schools and preceded him in death in 1969, at age 36.
Mike and Sue had three children, Cynthia Sue Peltonen (Bill) of Clawson MI, Michael Lee Rhuland (Betty Jo) of Curtice OH, and Candace Lue Spathelf of Dunedin FL, who died in 2020.
In 1970 he married longtime family friend, Marjorie Sharp Donaldson. Marjorie was also widowed and had three teenage sons, Terry, Tom and Phil. Every Easter and Christmas Marjorie and Mike hosted get-togethers for their ever-growing blended family.
Throughout their 41 years of marriage Mike and Marjorie enjoyed golfing with their many friends. They played courses from Biloxi, MS to Gaylord MI; from Myrtle Beach SC to Angola IN, and everywhere in between. Marjorie died in 2011.
In 1980, Mike converted a flower shop into the Weston Carry Out, from which he retired in 2001.
He embraced technology early on and was proud of his computer proficiency. In his early nineties he wrote his memoir, A Day in the Life of a Farm Boy, that was self-published by his dear friend Rita Brieschke. As his hearing declined, he stayed connected to family and friends through email and text, right up until three weeks before his death.
Honoring Mike’s wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral service. In the spring, there will be a short graveside service at Lake Township Cemetery, where his ashes will be interred next to his wife, Suzanne. All are welcome to attend; the family will post a notification on his Facebook page closer to that time.
Arrangements are being made by Marsh & Marsteller Funeral Home of Luckey. Those wishing to share a memory or photo may do so at www.marshfuneralhomes.com.
