Michael Ruland July 27, 1958 - October 11, 2026

Michael Eugene Ruland

Mike died peacefully at home on Sunday, October 11, 2026 of heart disease. He was a loving husband to his wife Mary Ann Merz, and a dedicated father to sons John and David.  He is also survived by his mother Mary Rochette; siblings Joe, Paul and Susan; stepmother Birgit; nieces and nephews Jay, Iris, Maggie, Zachary, Evan, Austin, and Chloe; and many extended family members and friends.

Mike loved to tell stories. He filled them with life and color, adding details that nobody could believe he remembered. His memory was complemented by an extensive vocabulary and an encyclopedic appreciation of music, movies, art, and literature. Almost anything could remind him of a song or an old movie he liked, and he delighted in sharing those connections. His instrument of choice was the flute.

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Mike lived for most of his childhood in the Parkview neighborhood of University City.  He was a fixture in the community, and went on to reside in U. City for the great majority of his life.  He earned a BA in English and History from Washington University in St. Louis, with a minor in ceramics.  His interest in ceramics was keen and lifelong; he was a ceramics teacher for a time, and kept three pottery wheels and a kiln in his basement.

Early in his working life, Mike served on a sculpture restoration crew, traveling first with the Washington University conservation lab and then with two private companies.  He took enormous pride in his preservation work on statues and facades in St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Richmond, and elsewhere.  For most of his career, Mike worked as a maintenance contractor and craftsman restoring and repairing homes in the St. Louis area.  He took particular care withartistic features of wood in older homes, and was also especially skilled with plaster.  He garnered a strong reputation of excellence, beautifying homes and improving lives all over the region.

When Mike became a father, he cared for his infant and young sons at home while Mary Ann was a faculty member at Maryville University.  Throughout his life, but especially during this time, he worked extensively on their 100 year old home.

He served most recently for 12 years as a maintenance technician at the Parc Provence memory care community.  In addition to electrical, mechanical and carpentry skills, one of the greatest assets he brought to Parc was the joy he took from interacting with the residents and other employees.  He worked tirelessly there, and developed a working knowledge of the campus that made him immensely valuable.

Services:  A funeral Mass will be held on Monday, November 23 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 7316 Balson Avenue, University City, MO 63130 at 10:30 a.m.  The family will be present to greet guests at 9:30 a.m.  Following the service, there will be a luncheon in the church’s Msgr. Ryan Center.  Immediately following the luncheon, we will proceed to the interment service at Bellefontaine Cemetery, 4947 W. Florissant Ave, St. Louis, MO 63115.

Donations in Mike’s memory may be made to Craft Alliance, a nonprofit art center dedicated to building community through craft.  Mike was involved with Craft Alliance during its early years, donating one of his pottery wheels, and was recently pondering getting his hands into clay again at the Craft Alliance pottery studio.  To make a donation, go to craftalliance.org/support and click “Tribute – Memorial Gift.”