Carol Lynn Butler (née Rucinski), 80 of DeKalb, formerly of Rockford, passed away on Friday, April 3, 2026 at Aperion Care, DeKalb following a decade-long battle with dementia. She was born on October 3, 1945 in LaSalle, Illinois, the fourth child and only daughter of Joseph and Ruth (nee Biederstedt) Rucinski. She graduated Rockford Auburn High School in 1964 having been the first female student to complete the school’s mechanical drafting program. She married Robert Eugene Butler at Court Street United Methodist Church in Rockford on July 2, 1966.

Carol is survived by her son Eric (Danielle) Butler, daughter Kaylyn (Scott) Conover, grandchildren Maggie (Kevin) Riemer, Kyle Inman, Zaren Conover, and Jaden Conover, sister-in-law Sandy (the late Gary) Rucinski, and life-long friends and relatives that she did not remember by the end of her life. She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph Clarence and Ruth Bernice (nee Biederstedt) Rucinski; brothers Robert, Richard, and Gary Rucinski; beloved uncle Albert Biederstedt; husband’s beloved nephew Melvin “Les” Armes; and granddaughter Olivia Conover.

Carol lived her entire life with the physical effects of cerebral palsy affecting her right leg and right foot, leaving both shorter than her left. The unbalance of her legs and her unique gait ultimately caused significant and occasionally debilitating back pain for which she never sought prescription medications to reduce her pain, afraid they would make her overconfident to move and cause additional damage. During her school-aged years, she fought hard against the stereotype that persons with physical limitations and disabilities also suffered from mental disabilities. Her children were taught early that a person was defined by their character, not the condition of their body. Mobility was difficult and painful for Carol, though she was loathe to complain. During her pre-teen and teenaged years, she had numerous surgeries in an attempt to correct her right leg. While doctors were never able to correct the congenital damage to the bones and muscles to her leg, she was a lifelong advocate of Shriner’s Hospital in Chicago where these surgeries were performed without cost or burden to her family.

In spite of her limitations, Carol kept an immaculate home and yard. She enjoyed entertaining friends and family. She was a Christian woman with strong faith and intense moral values. She was an amateur seamstress and was skilled in different types of needlework. She kept books, photographs, and documentation of her ancestors, but never developed into a genealogist. She never enjoyed reading, but loved Pearl S. Buck’s “The Good Earth.” We suppose it could be said she preferred quality over quantity! Carol and Bob built their dream home in the early 1990s following Bob’s retirement. Carol finally had the input to design the perfect home for someone with limited abilities and chronic pain. She set about planning the interior design, the exterior arbor and flora, and continued with the active upkeep until declining health and memory forced her and Bob to enter assisted living.

Carol’s family expressly wish to thank the wonderful caring team at Heartland Hospice who assisted Carol in her final fourteen months; Anderson Funeral Home for accommodating our needs; and Aperion Care DeKalb for assisting in Carol’s care these past seven years.

Respecting their final wishes, Carol and Bob have both been cremated and will be interred concurrently at a memorial service on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. with a lunch gathering following. Please contact Eric or Kaylyn for details regarding the cemetery and restaurant including addresses/GPS information for each. This forthcoming holiday season, 

we hope you will remember Carol and Bob with an ornament on your holiday tree. In Carol’s case, we hope it’s bright and loud, just like she was.

For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.