Info Sheet - CW2 Kenneth "Ken" Rucki
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Kenneth Rucki, CW4 retired 1988 at Fort Drum NY
In ¾ Cav flew sniffer missions, sprayed (agent orange) , did bombing missions on Nui Ba Din (foo gas) , phsyops with both loudspeakers and leaflets, Flare missions, Mini Cav, Ash and Trash, Special Forces resupply, Medevac, flew something where the entire crew had to be masked (CS ) and other stuff. Left Country with 1064 flight hours. Almost 100 of which was AH-1G Cobra front seat on my days off.
Obituary:
Kenneth H. Rucki, 76, of Flower Ave. West, passed away October 12, 2024, at Hospice of Jefferson County at the Ellis Farm.
Ken was born July 23, 1948, in Brooklyn, NY, son of Henry W. and Helen V. (Stelmasiak) Rucki. He graduated from North Babylon High School in 1966 and attended Willaim Jewell College with a Tennis Scholarship until he enlisted in to the United States Army in 1968. He served until his honorable discharge in 1988, spending his career as a helicopter pilot, early on in Vietnam.
In September of 1970 he married Kathy A. Parow at the Presbyterian Nursing Home in Syosset, LI.
After Ken served twenty years in the US Army as a helicopter pilot he owned and operated North Country Helicopter, serving the community in various capacities. The business was sold in the early 1990’s. For twenty-nine years he was a financial advisor for Legend Equities, retiring in 2023.
Surviving besides his wife Kathy is a son and his wife, Doug and Alissa Rucki, Albemarle, NC, a brother Greg Rucki. East Islip, LI three grandchildren, Tristen, Sara, Antionette, several nieces and nephews and his dog, Bentley.
Calling hours will be Friday October 25, 2024 from 4-7pm at the D.L. Calarco Funeral Home, Inc. A funeral service will be held Saturday, October 26th at noon at First Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Sackets Harbor Military Cemetery at the convenience of the family.
Contributions may be made in Ken’s name to Gideons International, PO Box 97251, Washington, DC 20090-7251.