Mary B. Rucker

DECORAH, Iowa – Mary B. Rucker, 86, of Decorah, Iowa, formerly of Dixon and Polo, died Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, at the Aase Haugan Home in Decorah. She worked at Borg Warner Co. in Dixon for 17 years before retiring in 1979, and then was a partner in the Rucker Kane Association until 1986.

She was born on Aug. 5, 1925, in Chicago, to Matteo and Rose (Alturi) Ruffolo. She married Lewis W. Rucker on May 12, 1946, in Chicago. He preceded her in death in August 1968. She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Dixon, St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.

She is survived by her granddaughter, Deborah (Robert) Smith of Decorah, her grandson, William (Pamela) Hess of Denver, N.C., and great-grandchildren Matthew, Kathryn and Rebecca Hess of Denver and Abigail, Miles, and Isabella Smith of Decorah. She also was preceded in death by her daughter, Rose Mary Hess Shedd; brother, Lawrence; and sister, Edna. Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday at Jones Funeral Home in Dixon, followed by funeral services that will begin with a prayer service at 10 a.m. at the funeral home, then Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Dixon. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Dixon. A luncheon will follow at the Dixon VFW. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to St. Benedict School and Aase Haugen Homes, both in Decorah. Visit www.thejonesfh.com to send condolences.