Ruth K (Karlock) Gordon

Ruth K. Gordon, 93, passed away on November 23, 2023, at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL surrounded by loved ones.

Born April 23, 1930, in Momence, Illinois, she was the daughter of Frank and Rose Karlock and grew up on the farm with an older brother, Frank.  She learned to drive at a young age to help her mother after her father was killed in a tragic train accident.  After graduating from Crescent City High School, she worked briefly at a hotel in Chicago and then decided to start nurses’ training at Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Champaign, IL.  While in training Ruth met a young farmer, Maurice A Gordon II, who became the love of her life.  After she graduated, they were married on Jan.2, 1954, at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Rantoul, IL.  Shortly after their honeymoon, Maurice was drafted into the Army and was stationed in Germany.  Ruth was allowed to follow him, and they started having and raising their family abroad.  After several months, Maurice was honorably discharged, and they returned to the family farm in Rantoul where they lived most of their married life.  She was a devoted wife and mother and worked part time as a nurse when her four children were young.  Ruth was a creative person, taking millinery classes to make hats and woodworking classes to build furniture.  She also designed the ranch style house that she and Maurice built on the home farm in 1972.

A woman of strong faith, Ruth was an active member of St. Malachy Catholic Church in Rantoul, volunteering at both the parish and diocesan level.  She became passionate about the pro-life movement in the early seventies and was very involved in Champaign County Right-to-Life and Birthright, both founded to help women in crisis pregnancy situations.  Seeing a need for a political solution to life issues, Ruth became involved in the Republican Party, which had a pro-life platform.  Eventually Ruth became the Vice Chairman of Champaign County Republicans.  She worked on numerous campaigns for candidates including Tim Johnson, Ronald Reagan and Bob Dole.

After Maurice partially retired from farming, Ruth and he became snowbirds.  They would travel to their condo in Mesa, AZ to escape the cold Illinois winters.  Over time they developed many wonderful friendships at the Fountain of the Sun and Ruth became a landlady after she purchased and rented two additional condos in the complex.  She also enjoyed taking trips, especially cruises, to many destinations and taking time to be with her grandchildren.

Loved and respected, she is survived by her four children and their spouses:  Bernard (Vickie) Gordon, Maurice (Dianna) Gordon, Susan (Bruce) Kloth and Stephen (Rebecca) Gordon.  She is the cherished grandmother of fourteen grandchildren and their spouses:  Brian (Dee) Gordon, Chris (Samantha) Gordon, Andrea (Steve) Martorana, Michael (Victoria) Gordon, Kate Gordon, Thomas (Mary) Gordon, Daniel (Freya) Gordon, Mary T. Gordon, Kevin (Enxhi)Gordon, Joshua (Laura) Kloth, Jason (Ronni) Kloth, Krista (Kirk) Vissat, Kacie (Dallas) Osterbur, Devon (Chet) Little and the great-grandmother of twenty two, Zabrina Gordon, Sadie Gordon, Jack Martorana, Caroline Martorana, Anne Martorana, Nicholas Gordon, Iris Gordon, Phoebe Gordon, Zoe Gordon, J.D. Kloth, James Kloth, Josie Kloth, Henry Kloth, Coretta Kloth, Thaddeus Kloth, Izabella Vissat, Gianna Vissat, Emma Osterbur, Kinsley Osterbur, Brynleigh Little, Jameson Gordon and Faustina Gordon  She was preceded in death by her husband Maurice, her baby sister Irene, her brother Frank, and his wife Jean.

Visitation will be on Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Lux Memorial Chapel, 1551 E. Grove Ave, Rantoul.  A funeral mass will be on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Malachy Catholic Church, 304 E. Belle Ave., Rantoul with cemetery internment to follow in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Rantoul.

Memorials may be made to Misericordia Heart of Mercy, 6300 Ridge, Chicago, IL 60660 https://www.misericordia.com/giving/donate-online/ or Birthright, 201 West Springfield, Champaign 61820.

Lux Memorial Chapel is handling the arrangements.