Last Updated on November 14, 2023 by Kroeger Funeral Home
Carolyn Grube Rucker, 83, of Wilmette, Illinois, and formerly of Shakopee, Minnesota and Bonita Springs, Florida, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, surrounded by loving family.
Carolyn was born on Aug. 29, 1940, to Don and Isabel Grube in Logansport, Indiana. After graduating from Logansport High School in 1958, she went on to pursue a degree in mathematics from Connecticut College, graduating in 1962.
In 1963, Carolyn married William (“Bill”) Rucker and they were married over 50 years until his death in 2017. Together, they ultimately settled in Shakopee, Minnesota, where they raised their three daughters, Carrie, born in 1964, and twins Laurel and Elizabeth (“Libby”), born in 1977.
Carolyn worked for 30 years in the human resources consulting division of Towers Perrin until her retirement in 2000. It was then that Carolyn and Bill headed for the sun in Bonita Springs, Florida. In 2017, Carolyn lost her adoring husband, Bill, and soon after moved north to the Chicago area to be closer to her family.
Carolyn was an incredible mother, wife, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She treated her countless friends like family and her family like friends. Carolyn loved to travel, play golf, go out to eat, go to the movies, play cards, spend time with her family, and watch her grandchildren play sports. In her final years, she was able to spend a lot of quality time with her family and adoring grandchildren.
Carolyn is predeceased by her parents, Don and Isabel (Murdock) Grube; her husband, William Estes Rucker; and her loving daughter, Carrie Rucker.
She is survived by her daughters and their loving families, Laurel (Rucker) Shuman, Mitch Shuman of Erie, Colorado, children, Norah (11), Genevieve (“Evie”) (9), Lucas (5); Libby (Rucker) O’Donoghue, Patrick O’Donoghue of Wilmette, Illinois, children, Theodore (“Teddy”) (7) and August (“Auggie”) (5); grandson, Dillon James Estes Jensen of Coon Rapids, Minnesota; granddaughter, Calli (Prayner) Tripp, David Tripp, Piper (4) and Crosby (2) of Shorewood, Illinois. Carolyn is also survived by loving sisters, Linda (late Ron) Eisenhauer, Jane (Jim) David, Martie (late Rick) Roehm; and her cherished cousin, Harriet (late John) Rincon. And she leaves behind many loving nieces; nephews; her sisters-in-law; and lifelong friends
A celebration of Carolyn’s incredible life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 18, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 319 7th Street in Logansport, Indiana. Meet with the family in the parish house between 10 – 11 a.m. EDT, and the ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. EDT, with a luncheon to follow. Internment of the ashes will be private, following the luncheon.
In lieu of flowers, Carolyn wished that donations be considered to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, www.luriechildrens.org, who were instrumental in Carolyn’s grandson’s fight against pediatric cancer. We love our mom, and will miss her forever.
Arrangements were entrusted to Kroeger Funeral Home.