Frederick Luther Ruchti, Sr., 63, of Grinnell, died on May 10, 2020, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. A private family graveside service has been scheduled for Friday, May 15th, at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell with Rev. John Epperson of Grinnell, officiating. A public visitation, with social distancing guidelines followed, will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, May 14th, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Memorial contributions may be designated to Poweshiek Animal League (PALS). Fred was born on July 29, 1956, in Caribou, Maine, the son of Roger and Gladys "Micky" Drost Ruchti. His dad was a Park Ranger and Fred grew up in several communities in Iowa, including the Rock Creek Lake area. He had many childhood adventures playing at Rock Creek State Park. He attended school in the Grinnell-Newburg School District. He enlisted into the United States Navy on August 28, 1973, and served on the USS Sylvania AFS 2 during the Vietnam War. Upon discharge, he lived in Greenfield and Des Moines, prior to moving to Grinnell in 1998. He was employed with Cardinal Glass in Greenfield and with Jeld-Wen in Grinnell. He later worked as a farmhand in the Grinnell area. On April 16, 1992, he was united in marriage to Brenda Sue McCrea, at the Kingsway Cathedral in Des Moines. Fred enjoyed the outdoors and this is where he cared to be, whether he was fishing locally or tending to his vegetable garden and canning his produce. He loved his coffee "24/7" was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers, and held a "wicked" sense of humor. He loved his family very much and loved sharing his time at home with his wife. Survivors include his wife, Brenda of Grinnell; four children, Frederick (Darcy) Ruchti, Jr., Jammie (Michelle) Ruchti, Brian Ruchti, all of Des Moines, and Barbie (Danny) Ruchti of Orient; his father, Roger (Carolyn) Ruchti of Carbon; an "honorary daughter" Krystle (Tim) Calkins of Des Moines; two brothers, Mike (Cara) Ruchti of Redfield and Andy (Melisa) Ruchti of Winterset; one sister, Alice (Dennis) of Eldora; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews; two brothers-in-law; and one sister-in-law. He was preceded in death by his mother, Micky and one brother, Tom.