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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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“Bill” Rucks |
