Jerrie Dean Ruck

Jerrie Dean Ruck, 88, of Peoria, IL died on September 13, 2026, at Carle Proctor Hospital. Her death came at the end of a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Jerrie was born on May 14, 1938, in St. Louis, MO. She grew up outside Collinsville, IL in a house built by her father, Marvin Dean. She went to a one-room country school before attending Collinsville High School and eventually Southern Illinois University. At SIU, she majored in music. Later, she would earn her master’s degree from Bradley University and accumulate an additional 80 hours of higher education throughout her life. After college, Jerrie moved to Peoria and began teaching in District 150. She spent more than 30 years teaching music and eventually Language Arts before retiring from Blaine Sumner in 1996. Teaching was one of the great loves of her life and filled her with immense joy. In retirement, she continued teaching adult learners at Common Place. Jerrie was a smart, talented, community-minded, caring human. She had a quick smile, a silly sense of humor, and wondered at the world around us. She practiced yoga, played multiple instruments, and felt ice cream was its own food group. She underlined passages in books, posted quotes around her house, and made quilts for loved ones. In her windows, she hung crystals to create rainbows. Those rainbows landed on the fur of the many cats she loved through the years- Gershwin, Oliver, Lewis, Tanner, Lenny, and Nicky. In life, Jerrie wanted to be active, involved, and present in every moment. She always said, “Just show up!” to remind all of us to be supportive and engaged. A longtime member at Westminster Presbyterian Church, she served as a Deacon, in the choir, and on the Celtic Worship team. Her thirst for reading about spirituality, faith, and the sacred interconnectedness of all things was deeply important. Says her dear friend Anna Saxon, “It was from her faith that she found the motivation for service.” Jerrie’s deep love for the environment shone through in her dedication to the Sierra Club, of which she was an early member in Central Illinois. She hiked more than 3,000 miles at Forest Park Nature Center and was proud to volunteer there and at Sommer Park. When a flock of geese passed overhead, she always stopped to listen. Jerrie is survived by her daughter Holly of Peoria, IL, her daughter-in-law Franki and grandson Alex of Canton, IL, and her sister Marian of Tucson, AZ. She was loved and cherished by family, friends, and students across so many years. She was preceded in death by her son Jeremy, who was unvaccinated and died of Covid-19 in 2021. To honor Jerrie’s life, please walk in the woods, eat ice cream, or listen to music that moves you. Additionally, please consider a donation to the environmental charity of your choosing, Forest Park Nature Center in Peoria, IL, or to a teacher in your community via DonorsChoose.org. Most of all, remember to find the joy in all things.

Jerrie Dean Ruck

May 14, 1938 - September 13, 2026