James P. Ruder

James Patrick Ruder, 65, of Kankakee, passed away Friday (Dec. 7, 2012) at Riverside Medical Center where he was in hospice care. James was born Oct. 30, 1947, in Kankakee, the son of Andrew Vernon and Leona Crevier Ruder. James attended Our Lady Academy of Manteno, St. Jude Seminary in Momence and graduated from St. Ambrose University. He was a local business owner, of Southside Furniture and, recently, Best Mattress. He served in the Army Reserves during the Vietnam War. Surviving are his wife, Suzy Brown Ruder, whom he married August. 29, 1970, at St. Martin of Tours in Kankakee; their three children, Matthew (Jenelle Nevins), of Chicago, Christofer (Shaw Stover), of Chicago, and Megan (Mike T. Roche) of Evanston. James was blessed with nine grandchildren: James Patrick "Jack" Roche, 9; Margaret, 4; Dennis, 21 months; Beckett, 4; Elliot, 3; Hattie, 1; Davis, 6; Lauren, 5; and Mike, 3. Surviving siblings are Rod Ruder (Rita Kehr), of Normal, Bill Ruder (Mary Fowler), of Manteno, Mary Lee Ruder Greco (Joe Greco), of Algonquin, and Ted Ruder (Karen Murphy), of Middletown, Conn.; nieces and nephews: Romney, Ryan, Ross, Adam, Andrew, Joe, Gina, Jake, Todd and Molly; along with many cousins and their families. His surviving aunts are Cecelia Crevier (Gene Seamark) and Mary Giardina, both of Kankakee, and Marcella Egges, of Milwaukee, Wis. and Adelia Loiselle, of Bourbonnais. From Suzy's family, he is survived by his mother-in-law, Mary "Bee" Brown, of Kankakee, Vikki (Sheldon) Proctor, of Evanston, Patricia (Phil Aldred), of Nipomo, Calif., Mary Brown (Tom Rogers), of Knoxville, Tenn., Sheila Brown, of Kankakee, Liz Brown, of Chicago, along with many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his father-in-law, Jack Brown; and one brother-in-law, Jim Brown. James was the patriarch of both the Ruder and Brown families and took his role seriously. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Kankakee, for 33 years. He was past school board president at Bishop McNamara Catholic High School, where he also had chaired the spring auction, past president of the Kankakee Neighborhood Association, past president at Retreat Club, member of Kankakee's Riverview Historic District, and member of Kankakee Country Club. Socially, Jim belonged to the "Campers" founded in 1970, was a proud member of the "Ambrose Bee's," and recently of St. Jude's alumni group. He loved to cook, to travel to southern France, to golf; but mostly he delighted in family gatherings at his Riverview home. James will always be remembered as the chef, the party giver and storyteller. The family asks that you recall a special story about Jim and share that with his family. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home in Bourbonnais. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick Catholic Church. His lifelong friend, Father Tony Nugent, will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrances be made to Bishop McNamara Catholic High School or Hospice of Kankakee Valley. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Kankakee Valley - www.hkvcares.org or to Bishop McNamara Catholic High School - www.bishopmac.com/

James P. Ruder

October 30, 1947 - December 7, 2012