Carolyn Jean (Peterson) Ruland

CAROLYN RULAND

GODFREY - Carolyn Jean Ruland, formerly of Jersey County, passed away peacefully at 7:28 p.m., Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the home of her daughter in Godfrey, surrounded by the love of her family. She was 83.

She was born on October 9, 1942, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and was the only child of the late Alvin C. and Julia (Gerber) Peterson. Carolyn carried with her the strength, independence, and warmth that often comes from being raised as an only child, qualities that would later shape the deep and devoted way she loved her own family.

On April 13, 1962, she married the love of her life, Robert Lee Ruland, in Eau Claire. Together, they built a life rooted in love, resilience, and adventure. Through the years, their journey took them across the country as they followed Bob’s work, creating a lifetime of memories along the way before eventually settling in Jersey County. Their marriage was blessed with three children, and later, with grandchildren and great-grandchildren who became the center of Carolyn’s world.

Carolyn was employed as a secretary with the Lee Rowan Company in St. Louis, Missouri. Her  greatest work, and what she treasured most, was the life she built at home. She had a gift for creating a space where people felt welcome, cared for, and truly seen.

Following Bob’s passing on May 10, 2014, Carolyn was fortunate to find companionship once more with Don Eaker. Together, they shared meaningful years filled with travel, laughter, and the simple joy of having someone to walk alongside through life’s later chapters.

Carolyn found happiness in the everyday moments. She loved working crossword puzzles, playing trivia, and was especially proud of her knack for spelling, something she never lost her touch for. She enjoyed reading, tending to her flower gardens, and had a special place in her heart for dogs. She also cherished the friendships she made while volunteering with the Jersey Community Hospital Foundation’s Hope Chest Resale Shop, as well as the connections she built within her church family at First Baptist Church in Jerseyville.

In her later years, Carolyn resided at Evergreen Senior Living in Alton, where she continued to find comfort in community and companionship.

The last two years of Carolyn’s life were marked by her quiet and courageous battle with dementia, a journey that, while incredibly difficult, revealed the depth of love surrounding her. Even as memories began to fade, the love her family had for her never wavered. They carried her through those days with patience, tenderness, and grace, holding tightly to the woman she had always been, and the countless memories that could never be taken away.

She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Kristine Kay and Steve Cunningham of Arnold, Missouri, and Kelly Rochelle and Kurt Chamberlin of Godfrey; a son, Dr. Kevin Scott Ruland of Lawrence, Kansas; her grandchildren, Stephen (Samantha) Turner of Brighton, Cpl. Michael (Venisse) Turner of Godfrey, Scott (Rebecca) Turner of Jerseyville, Margaret Rose Cunningham and Anna Cunningham, both of Arnold, Missouri, Simon Ruland of Colorado, and David “Max” Ruland of Minnesota; as well as her great-grandchildren, Mason Turner, Lincoln Turner, Rowyn Turner, and Hadley Mae Turner, with twin great-grandchildren on the way.

The family will host a Celebration of Life at the home of her daughter, Kelly on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 beginning at 5 p.m., a fitting tribute to a woman whose greatest joy was found within the walls of her family. 

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