Obituary of Harvey Rulien

HARVEY "HARKNESS" RULIEN

 

Harvey Harkness Rulien, 73, of Gig Harbor, Washington went home to the Lord late on April 9, 2021.  

 

Harvey was born in Tacoma, Washington, son of the late Ernest and Dorothy Rulien. He was the oldest of two sons and spent most of his formative years between Tacoma and Seattle. In high school, he found one of his passions, art. Throughout high school, he furthered the artistic skills that would help him later in life.  

 

Harvey was a 1965 graduate of Woodrow Wilson HS. After some time in community college, he enlisted in the US Navy during the Vietnam War, where he served almost three full tours.  

 

After leaving the Navy, Harvey attended Olympic College then Central Washington University. It was there where he met and later married his wife Cathy and trained to be a teacher. He spent the next three years teaching elementary students at Brigadoon Elementary School (Federal Way, WA) and ending his 34-year career at Jackson Park Elementary (Bremerton, WA).

 

After retiring, Harvey was able to spend his time more intentionally with the people and things he loved most. He gave the absolute best hugs and was a kind and loving “Boppa” to his two grandchildren. He loved spending time with his wife and family, where he would often be convinced to make his famous spaghetti. Harvey also enjoyed spending time with friends, discussing many things and brought many people to know the Lord. He was an avid reader and writer and penned a few papers about theology and many other topics. He also was an avid genealogist, tracing many family histories back hundreds of years. He loved all things Scotland, enjoyed bagpiping, and even created his family’s tartan for the Harkness clan. Harvey enjoyed art, both seeing pieces and creating his own. He was an avid woodcarver, Santa’s being the subject of many a carving. One of his biggest passions was O-gauge model trains, spending hours planning out and preparing his train room.   

 

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Cathy (Johnston) Rulien, his daughter Heather (Rulien) Conklin, and her husband Trevor; son Erik Rulien; two grandchildren Isla and Rowan Conklin; and brother Steven Rulien and his wife Toby of Salt Lake City.  

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you hug your family, pet your dog, wave at a train, create something, and put a Santa ornament on your Christmas tree in remembrance of him. No service is planned as of this time, but the family may celebrate his life later this summer.  

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