1951
Ruthanne
2024
Ruthanne Markunas
November 10, 1951 — August 15, 2024
Ruthanne Markunas, 72, of Machesney Park, died in her home on Thursday, August 15, 2024. Born November 10, 1951, in Rockford, the daughter of Al and Ruth (Berglund) Markunas. Married Jim McEachran on December 7, 2009. For all who have happy memories of Ruthanne as friend, cousin, aunt, or baby sister, this world will seem smaller without her in it.
Ruthanne took great pride in the fact that she lived 71 of her 72 years on the Rock River. She swam in it, fished in it, skied on it, skated on it, swung into it, floated on it, boated on it, and, in later years, gazed fondly at it and reflected on its place in her life. The river surely ran through her heart. Ruthanne also enjoyed her many trips with Jim to the McEachran family cottage in Gulliver, Michigan, and her Florida boating excursions with good friends there. Wherever she went, she was a lover of the natural world and stood up with conviction to protect it.
Ruthanne was vivacious and fun-loving, she was beautiful and athletic, she had an uncanny retention of facts and history, she loved to perform quirky stunts, and she definitely lived by her own rules - perhaps in contrast to her profession as a bookkeeper/accountant. R uthanne loved gardening, cooking, Frank Sinatra, Motown, and Jim’s and her rescue beagles Nevin and Maggie; and she also loved doing spontaneous, fabulous cartwheels.
Although Ruthanne had no children of her own, she lovingly accepted a frequent childcare role to her seven nieces and nephews and consequently left them with happy and prominent memories, from each having their own row in the vegetable garden to walks in the woods to lessons in making catfish dough balls. And none will ever forget her impassioned impersonations of Quasimodo. She was the fun, favorite and cherished aunt.
Ruthanne is survived by sister, Jean (Bob) Chanson; brother, Al (Sue) Markunas; sister, Joan Hurd; and her nieces and nephews, Sarah Markunas Provenzano, Molly Chanson, Susan Markunas, Anne Chanson, Emily Hurd Christensen, Adam Markunas, and Jake Chanson. Predeceased by her husband and her parents. In her passing, Ruthanne also leaves, with gratitude and appreciation, the very kindest of neighbors: Gayle and Mel, Marv and Diane, and Lou and Jo.
There will be a Celebration of Life from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 7, 2024, at University Club of Rockford, 945 North Main Street, Rockford, IL 61103. Cremation rites accorded. Arrangements by Delehanty Funeral Home, Loves Park, IL. In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution to Midwest Beagle Rescue, Education, and Welfare (gotbeagles.org).
Ruthanne took great pride in the fact that she lived 71 of her 72 years on the Rock River. She swam in it, fished in it, skied on it, skated on it, swung into it, floated on it, boated on it, and, in later years, gazed fondly at it and reflected on its place in her life. The river surely ran through her heart. Ruthanne also enjoyed her many trips with Jim to the McEachran family cottage in Gulliver, Michigan, and her Florida boating excursions with good friends there. Wherever she went, she was a lover of the natural world and stood up with conviction to protect it.
Ruthanne was vivacious and fun-loving, she was beautiful and athletic, she had an uncanny retention of facts and history, she loved to perform quirky stunts, and she definitely lived by her own rules - perhaps in contrast to her profession as a bookkeeper/accountant. R uthanne loved gardening, cooking, Frank Sinatra, Motown, and Jim’s and her rescue beagles Nevin and Maggie; and she also loved doing spontaneous, fabulous cartwheels.
Although Ruthanne had no children of her own, she lovingly accepted a frequent childcare role to her seven nieces and nephews and consequently left them with happy and prominent memories, from each having their own row in the vegetable garden to walks in the woods to lessons in making catfish dough balls. And none will ever forget her impassioned impersonations of Quasimodo. She was the fun, favorite and cherished aunt.
Ruthanne is survived by sister, Jean (Bob) Chanson; brother, Al (Sue) Markunas; sister, Joan Hurd; and her nieces and nephews, Sarah Markunas Provenzano, Molly Chanson, Susan Markunas, Anne Chanson, Emily Hurd Christensen, Adam Markunas, and Jake Chanson. Predeceased by her husband and her parents. In her passing, Ruthanne also leaves, with gratitude and appreciation, the very kindest of neighbors: Gayle and Mel, Marv and Diane, and Lou and Jo.
There will be a Celebration of Life from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 7, 2024, at University Club of Rockford, 945 North Main Street, Rockford, IL 61103. Cremation rites accorded. Arrangements by Delehanty Funeral Home, Loves Park, IL. In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution to Midwest Beagle Rescue, Education, and Welfare (gotbeagles.org).
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ruthanne Markunas, please visit our flower store.
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