Larry D. Ruckman

Larry D. Ruckman, 69, of Dixon, died Saturday, August 5, 2017 at home with his wife and family by his side. Larry was born July 23, 1948 in Des Moines, Iowa, the oldest son of Dean and LaVaughn (Ballenger) Ruckman. He married Joan Matic on July 12, 1968 at Court Street Methodist Church in Rockford. He graduated from Freeport High School in 1966 and attended Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa and Midstate College of Commerce in Rockford, Illinois. Larry served in the Army Reserve until 1974 with an Honorable Discharge. In his early career he worked for J.L. Clark in purchasing in Rockford and later for E. Edelman and Co. as a Senior Buyer. He went on to co-own LeBaron and Ruckman Furniture in Freeport for 12 years before retiring in 1999. He had many fond memories of helping break horses on his grandparent's farm in Iowa, where he spent many summers growing up. Larry was a loyal friend and loved his family. He told many jokes and stories pertaining to his experiences and always made people laugh. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye sports fan and season ticket holder to football games for over 34 years. He loved to cook, work in his workshop, grow flowers and vegetables in his green house and enjoyed the fruits of his labor in canning and freezing them. He also shared his bounty of plants and vegetables with others. Larry is survived by his wife, Joan Ruckman of Dixon; two sons, David (Monica) Ruckman of Amboy and Douglas (Heather) Ruckman of Des Monies, IA.; grandchildren, Mackenzie Ruckman of Gilbert, AZ., Cole Ruckman of Amboy, Macy Ruckman and Rudy Ruckman both of Des Moines, IA.; sister, Mary Jane (John) Burke of Freeport; brother, Steven (Julia) Ruckman of Freeport; niece, Ashley Burke of Freeport; and nephews, Aaron Burke and Gannon Ruckman both of Freeport. He was preceded in death by his parents, and grandparents. Funeral services will be 1:00 P.M. Wednesday August 9, 2017 at Preston-Schilling Funeral Home, Dixon. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at Preston-Schilling Funeral Home. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Dixon. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Larry's memory. Please sign his guestbook and share a story at www.burketubbs.com