Ruth Theill, of East Dubuque, IL, formerly of Menominee, IL, was called to her heavenly home on Thursday, November 30, 2023, to be with the love of her life, Wes; precious son, Paul; angel baby, Joan Marie; beautiful daughter in law, Susan Theill, and other family members called before her.

To honor Ruth's life, the Mass of Christian Burial will be at Nativity BVM Catholic Church, in Menominee, IL, at 10:30 A/M. on Saturday, December 9, 2023, with Father Dennis Vargas officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery.  Relatives and friends may greet the family from 3 P/M to 7 P/M, on Friday, December 8, 2023, at the Miller Funeral Home in East Dubuque IL, where a scripture prayer service will begin at 2:30 P/M.  You may also call from 9:00 A/M to 9:45 A/M, on Saturday, at the funeral home.

Ruth was born in Platteville, WI, on February 22, 1929, to John (Jack) and Mildred (Deiter) Carl.  She was raised on a farm owned by her Grandpa and Grandma Deiter, near Dickeyville, WI, and attended Caspers one room schoolhouse and graduated from Cuba City High School in May 1947. She met her farmer, Wesley (Junior) Theill, at a neighbor's wedding dance at Moonlight Gardens, rural East Dubuque. She was introduced to Wes by a friend. She never danced before but said, "when dad asked me to dance, it was as if they had danced all their lives." After 2 1/2 years of meeting and dancing, they had a double wedding with Wesley's sister, Charlene, and Frankie Hinderman, on July 20, 1948, at Nativity BVM Catholic Church, in Menominee IL, with a reception at the Theill farm, followed by a wedding dance at Moonlight Gardens, the place where they started their love story.

Ruth and Wes were lifetime farmers. Their passions were kids and farming.  They enjoyed their date night on Friday or Saturday night.  They loved dancing to country music and did this throughout their 66 years of marriage.  They also loved their Sunday drives and fall leaf runs.  Another passion of theirs, was attending their kids and grandkids school and sporting events.  They spent many, many years enjoying softball games at the Menominee ballpark.  Later in life they enjoyed traveling to Panama City, Florida, to visit mom's sister, Marlene Self.   Throughout the years they traveled with kids to many states, including Florida, Colorado, Washington, DC.  They truly enjoyed the beauty of this country.

Ruth and Wes's deep faith gave them strength and grace to endure medical emergencies, cancer, and the loss of two children.  Ruth was a loving wife to Wes, and they were married just shy of 66 years, when Wes was called to his heavenly home.  Ruth loved the spring wildflowers that Wes picked for her in May from alongside the country road near the farm and one of her favorite keepsakes were the cards dad handmade for her on special occasions.  Ruth was an awesome cook, especially known for her potato salad, cooked beans, peach pie, chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon rolls (yum yum!!!) and her pies were big hits at local charitable silent auctions.  Farming was her life and she enjoyed taking lunches to her guys, (Wes, Bear and Shawn), during field work and harvesting times and did this well into her eighties.  She also loved yard work, her flowers, feeding and watching the birds, looking at the moon, and writing her special notes on greeting cards.  Throughout her life she sent cards for all occasions to many people.

She was active in her community and some of her extracurricular activities included being a member of the Nativity BVM Mothers Club, St. Ann Society, and assisting with organizing the Nativity BVM parish festival.  After losing Wes, she found enjoyment in watching Gun Smoke, RFD Country music, polka music and Daniel O Donnell, because these were some of their favorite shows to watch together.   She loved being a farmer's wife, a mother and grandmother.  She was a nurturer and put everyone else's needs ahead of her own.  Those of us blessed to call her mom and friend will miss her beautiful spirit but we are comforted in knowing she is standing upright, pain free and at peace with her "honey" and love of her life, Wes.  We can imagine they are holding hands and once again dancing to "You Are My Sunshine" in the glow of heavenly light.   We love you mom and dad and look forward to seeing you again in our heavenly family home.

Those left to cherish Ruth are her beautiful kids, Alan (Bear) Theill, (fiancé, Byrd Myers), Linda Theill, Sally (Steve) Hantlemann, Kathy Junk, Jan (Mark) Mabe, Lori (Kirk) Wills, JoEllen (Gary) Leibold, Tracy (Doug) Bartlett, Shawn (Jeni) Theill; 28 grandkids; 27 great grandkids; 14 great-great grandkids; brother and sister in law, Mervin and Rosie Theill, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Ruth was proceeded in death by her soul mate and love of her life, Wes; her son; Paul; baby daughter, Joan Marie; daughter in law; Susan Theill; her sister and brother-in-law, Marlene and Robert Self; brothers, Glenn, Clayton and Jerry Carl; father and mother-in-law, Wesley and Ida Theill; sister-in-law, Merla Carl; niece, Deanne Eudaly; and nephews, Kevin and Steven Carl; sisters and brothers in law, Merla and Carlisle Jacobi, Charlene and Franki Hinderman, and LaVonne and Jim Heitkamp; step father, William Rohlmeier and extended family.

The family of Ruth wants to thank Medical Associates and the staff of Hospice of Dubuque, East, for their compassion and wonderful care.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.millerfhed.com©