VGI Updates

David Ruhl, son of Henry Ruhl & Mary Katherine Schafer, was born 12 August 1920 in Watts, Alberta, and died 21 December 1988 in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Dave Ruhl was a professional wrestler with a 30-year career. He was the last NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion.

Dave's Volga German ancestors came from the colony of Kraft.

Ivan Leroy Prediger, son of Peter John Prediger & Freida Jane Magdalinski, was born 31 January 1941 in Neilburg, Saskatchewan, and died 6 May 2015 in Edmonton, Alberta.

Ivan was a professional hockey player (1959-1972) with the Estevan Bruins, Seattle Totems, Omaha Knights, Fort Wayne Komets, Des Moines Oak Leafs, Toledo Hornets, Waterloo Black Hawks, and Las Vegas Outlaws. He then went on to coach with the Battleford Barons, Kamloop Chiefs, Des Moines Buccaneers, and Fort McMurray Oil Barons.

Ivan's Volga German ancestors came from the colony of Volmer.

Andrew Lee "Andy" Maurer, son of Raymond George Maurer & Halie Abell, was born 30 September 1948 in Silverton, Oregon.

Andy Maurer played guard and tackle in the National Football League (1970 to 1978) with the Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings (Super Bowl 1975), New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, and Denver Broncos (Super Bowl 1978). He started in 84 of the 109 regular seasons games in which he played.

Andy died 3 January 2016 in Medford, Oregon.

His Volga German ancestors came from the colonies of Rothammel and Pfeifer.

Ron Franz, son of Rudolph Franz & Mollie Budfuloski, was born 20 October 1945 in Kansas City, Kansas.

Cinematographer John William Elsenbach, son of Peter Elsenbach & Barbara Groh, was born 1 March 1925 in Chicago, Illinois. He died at the Motion Picture & Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, on 13 November 2004.

Variety reports:

Donald Eugene Bissing, son of Francis "Frank" Adam Bissing & Josephine "Pearl" Benjamin, was born on 10 September 1934 in McCook, Nebraska.

Dr. Bissing received his education at Fort Hays State University, the University of Kansas, and Harvard University, He was an organic chemist and mathematician. During his career he worked with Monsanto Corporation in St. Louis, Missouri, where he developed numerous patents that include Lasso Pre-Emmirtant Herbicide and Roundup. He also worked for BASF in Wyandotte, Michigan, and FMC Corp. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Lioba C. Karlin, daughter of Jacob Karlin & Anna C. Gauss, was born 16 September 1910 in Green Creek, Illinois. She died 25 February 1969 in Hollywood, California.

Under the stage name of Bo-Peep Karlin she made her screen debut as a chorus girl in "Happy Days" (1929) with other credits that included "The Trial of Vivienne Ware" (1932), "Something to Sing About" (1937), "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956), and "Bye Bye Birdie" (1963).

She was married to actor and TV executive Gaston-Jacques Glass.

Gregory Alan Dreiling, son of Raymond Joseph Dreiling & Ann Patzner, was born 7 November 1963 in Wichita, Kansas.

After playing basketball for Wichita State University and the University of Kansas, Greg Dreiling was drafted in the second round of the 1986 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers. After 7 years with the Pacers, he also played for the Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers. Greg played for a total of 10 years with the NBA, primarily as center.

He is a scout for the Dallas Mavericks.

Greg's Volga German ancestors come from the colony of Herzog.