SR1309LRB102 29798 ECR 41889 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Lovella Mary "Val" Sendelweck
4Ruckriegel, who passed away on November 22, 2022; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Lovella Ruckriegel was born to Walter Johann and
6Emily Margaret (Buchta) Sendelweck in Boone Township, Jasper,
7Indiana on August 17, 1935; she attended the Portersville
8four-room schoolhouse before graduating from Jasper High
9School in 1953; she married Robert Lee Clinton "Bob"
10Ruckriegel in St. Paul's Lutheran Church on September 13,
111956; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Lovella Ruckriegel worked in the offices of
13Jasper Wood Products after graduating high school; she and her
14husband opened the 24-hour eatery Jerry's Restaurant in 1964
15while she continued to work for Jasper Wood Products; after
16starting a restaurant company with their friend and business
17partner, Dave Buehler, she left Jasper Wood Productions to
18focus full time on the growing company in 1969; she led an
19office team that originally did the company's payroll and
20accounting in the basement of her house until the new
21corporate office building, Der Buro Komplex, was built in
221976; and
 

 

 

SR1309- 2 -LRB102 29798 ECR 41889 r

1    WHEREAS, Lovella Ruckriegel and her husband's operating
2company eventually became known as BR Associates; their
3business grew to include hospitality units in six states,
4including Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Illinois, New York, and
5Florida; their company was recognized by the hospitality
6industry as the sixth largest multi-concept private restaurant
7group in the nation in 1986; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Lovella Ruckriegel's sons followed in her and her
9husband's footsteps by starting their own restaurant company;
10while celebrating 50 years in the restaurant industry, the
11family combined both companies to form SERVUS in 2014; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Lovella Ruckriegel worked alongside her husband
13on many side businesses or development investments; she was
14involved in each project, from taking care of the books to
15working on designing, decorating, or viability; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Lovella Ruckriegel donated her time to various
17organizations in the community, including St. Paul's Lutheran
18Church, Redeemer Lutheran Church, the Redeemer Women's Club,
19the Fifth Street P.T.O., and, most recently, her homeowners'
20association; proud of her bookkeeping skills, she often served
21in the role of treasurer or accountant; she also helped start
22the Northwood Good Samaritan Retirement Community, where she
23readied its opening by helping place the furniture and putting

 

 

SR1309- 3 -LRB102 29798 ECR 41889 r

1on the first bed linens in 1966; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Lovella Ruckriegel was recognized as a
3Distinguished Alumnus of Jasper High School; she gifted a
415-foot clock to the City of Jasper's restored train station
5in her and her husband's names; she considered her highest
6honor to be receiving the key to the City of Jasper; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Lovella Ruckriegel was preceded in death by her
8husband, Robert "Bob" Ruckriegel, and her brother, Clarence
9(Janice) Sendelweck; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Lovella Ruckriegel is survived by her sons, Al
11(David Adams) Ruckriegel and Sid (Andrew Rand) Ruckriegel, and
12her sister, Ioma (Edward) Wening; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
15Lovella Mary "Val" Sendelweck Ruckriegel and extend our
16sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew
17and loved her; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to the family of Lovella Ruckriegel as an expression
20of our deepest sympathy.