By Patricia Hudson –
Karl and Louise Rugaard spent their early years in “various parts of Texas.” They finally landed in Harris County in 1986. “We raised our children in Hearthstone. Our Cypress Creek Lakes home was purchased in 2014 and we love it here,” shares Louise.
Louise, a Grad school student, and Karl, a law student, met at Texas Tech University. “We married on graduation day, 42 years ago,” she recalls. “It seemed like a great idea because our family would be traveling there for the graduation.”
Prior to retiring, Karl worked for several oil companies. Following 9/11, Louise spent eight years teaching biology at Cy-Falls High School. “Before becoming a teacher, I was involved in all kinds of Scouting: Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and I led a troop for 13 years. I also volunteered with our church, various schools, Harris County Master Gardeners, and other non-profits,” explains Louise.
The Cypress Creek Lakes community became home for the couple when they no longer needed their previously owned two-story house. “We found our dream home here. A prior visit to St. Petersburg, Russia, added to our love of the place, with the fountains and lakes,” comments Louise. “We could continue to be near friends and familiar haunts.”
The Rugaards have three adult children. Karen Rugaard Ward, her husband, James, and her two children live in Spring Branch. Chris, his wife, Jodi, and their child make their home in Needville, and Matt, his wife, Stefanie, and their three children reside close by, in Stonegate. It is interesting to learn that Matt met his wife through his brother’s wedding. “Matt was Best Man and his future wife, Stefanie, was Maid of Honor to Chris’ bride. All four of them had been swimmers, so they had lots in common. That was 13 years ago. As it was, Chris met his future wife at a District swim meet; it was love at first sight,” explains their mother.
Karl and Louise have the distinction of being world travelers. “We have visited all of the continents, but Asia, although we have visited Israel. Before going abroad, we took a pop-up trailer from Houston to Alberta, Canada and back, stopping at the national parks along the way. We were gone for a month and only stayed in a hotel five nights. Our adult children still reminisce about changing flats on the trailer, and Canada Day pancake breakfast in a park in Canmore. Trips abroad have included Canada, Mexico, South America and Antarctica by cruise ship, Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Greenland, Iceland, Western Europe, Israel, United Kingdom, Egypt, Australia/ New Zealand, Greece and more. Our top four trips are Iceland, South America/Antarctica (2020), Australia/New Zealand, and Egypt.”
Not all of their globetrotting adventures have gone without complications, Louise recalls. “The best laid travel plans went awry when while on our 44-day cruise to South America and Antarctica, we kept hearing about the novel Coronavirus that was infecting hundreds in China. As the cruise progressed, we became nervous that we might not be allowed to go home. We landed in Houston February 16, 2020, and came close to kissing the ground. The virus never got onto the ship. COVID-19 has changed our outlook on international travel.”
While many of their adventures take them far from home, their grandkids make coming home so much sweeter. “Because we live close to them, we get to see them often and cherish our time. They range in age from 3 to 10.”
Karl enjoys playing online games and reading. Louise is active in a book group, Zoom bingo, CCL bunco, Academy of Lifelong Learning at Lone Star Cy-Fair as a speaker, student and member of the bus committee. Louise is a lifetime Girl Scout and has served on The Emerald Circle Gold Award Scholarship Committee. Both Karl and Louise enjoy gardening at their home in CCL. Louise is also a member of the CCL Garden Club and is a retired Harris County Master Gardener. The couple attends Good Shepherd UMC at Fairfield.
The one thing that most people don’t know about Karl is that he earned Eagle rank in high school (as did both of their sons, and their daughter earned her Gold Award). Karl is a former Cubmaster, and later, Scoutmaster to Sam Houston Area Council BSA Troop 202. Louise earned what she calls “a double whammy,” a BS in Horticulture and MS in Crop Science. She became a teacher following the tragedy of 9/11 because she was too old to join the military.
Louise sums up their fondness for their lives in Cy-Fair. ”We loved our 26+ years in Hearthstone, and live close enough to keep up with old friends. CCL is truly our forever home and we have been delighted to meet and get to know of our many friends here. One of the things we love most is the diversity in ages and ethnicities.”
