Thomas M. Ruane

Thomas M. Ruane, passed away on Sunday afternoon, April 29, 2018. He was born in Chicago, Ill. on March 31, 1924 and was the son of Michael Ruane and Margaret (Clark) Ruane. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Mary Rita (Houle) Ruane, and two of his eight children, Michael J. Ruane and Mary E. (Jim) Bulger, along with his sister, Mary OMalley. He is survived by his children, Irene M. (Frank) Fuoco, Kathleen T. (Barry) West, Thomas M. Ruane Jr. (Pam), James P. (Lisa) Ruane, Colleen M. (Michael) Vickers and Maureen T. Neidow along with 23 Grandchildren and 14 Great Grandchildren. He always considered his children as his greatest accomplishment. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served in World War II. After the war he enrolled in DePaul University. It was during that time that Tom met his lifelong partner Rea, who was a student in the Loyola School of Nursing. Rea and Tom were married on January 24, 1948. After graduation Tom joined the Chicago Police Department and worked his way up to Detective. In 1953 he entered the life insurance business in Chicago with Mass Mutual. Tom did extremely well and in 1955 he was appointed as General Agent with Mass Mutual in Wichita. He was a great General Agent and built a large and successful Agency. Tom retired from agency management at age 60 and quickly became the largest producer in the agency, even while spending six months a year at their home in Arizona. Golf became his primary interest and Tom had 11 holes in one before he quit playing the game. He was very active in the community, so active that you couldnt name all the organizations. Tom was Chairman of the Board at Newman University and Via Christi Hospital. Tom was very active in the Knights of Columbus and was a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre. The Rosary will be at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 4, and the Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 5, both at St. Thomas Aquinas Church here in Wichita. Thanks to the people at Phoenix Hospice who did a wonderful job caring for our Dad. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 1321 N. Stratford, Wichita, KS 67206, or the Via Christi Philanthropy, 8200 E. Thorn Dr., Wichita, KS 67226. Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.