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William “Bill” Rucks

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[July 09, 2015]  MOUNT PULASKI - William “Bill” Rucks , 61, passed peacefully away surrounded by family at 12:30 a.m. on July 9, 2015 at Memorial Medical Center of Springfield.

Visitation:  From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday July 12, at the Ed Butkovich Gymnasium at Mount Pulaski High School

Service: 10:00 a.m. Monday July 13,at the high school.

Funeral home: Fricke-Calvert-Schrader, Mount Pulaski

Obituary

William “Bill” Rucks , 61, passed peacefully away surrounded by family at 12:30 a.m. on July 9, 2015 at Memorial Medical Center of Springfield.

Bill was born on December 2, 1953 in Jacksonville, son of Walter G. and Courtney Y. Rucks. He married Janet Gustafson on August 9, 1975 in Galesburg. She survives him.

Also surviving are his daughter, Kristin (Brian) Rucks-Smith of Mount Pulaski, his siblings; Jim (Cindy) Rucks of Hoffman Estates, Tom (Mary Ellen) Rucks of Lincolnshire, Renee (Dave) Sams of Gurnee, Richard Rucks of Chicago, Pete (Cindy) Rucks of Libertyville, Mary (Mike) Gray of Gurnee, and Becky (Frank) Belmont of Gurnee. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Tim, Aunt Ruth, and good buddy Ed Butkovich.

Bill graduated from Waukegan Township High School in 1972 and the University of Illinois in 1976. Bill taught 5th grade at Mount Pulaski Grade School for many years, was assistant basketball coach with Ed Butkovich for 26 years, head coach for 6 years, and was the head Jr. High track coach. Bill was the first 7 footer to play basketball for the U of I. He was a member of the Varsity I and the University of Illinois Alumni Association.

He was elected into the Illinois Basketball Association Hall of Fame. He was a member on the Mount Pulaski School Board, Mount Pulaski Jaycees, Mount Pulaski Lyons Club, and Mount Pulaski Park District. Bill was an avid Fighting Illini, Chicago Cub and Bears fan. He loved Disney World and his dog Ernie.

Memorial Services for Bill will be 10:00 a.m. Monday July 13, 2015 at the Ed Butkovich Gymnasium at Mount Pulaski High School with Greg Taylor officiating. Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. Sunday July 12, 2015 also at the high school. Burial at Mount Pulaski Cemetery will follow the service. Memorials may be made to Mount Pulaski High School Basketball Program for a new scoreboard. Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home, Mount Pulaski, is handling arrangements.
 

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