Mrs. Ruth Louise Pecsi, 95, passed away on Monday morning, July 28, 2025, at her home surrounded by her family.
Ruth was born on May 5, 1930, in Galesburg, the daughter of Harold Chester and Frances Elizabeth (Nelson) Kemmitt. She was a long-time resident of Galesburg, graduating from Galesburg High School in 1948. She married the love of her life, Frank Pecsi, on June 12, 1948, in Galesburg and together they shared 49 years of marriage. He preceded her in death on October 11, 1997.
At the age of 14, Ruth began working for the South Street neighborhood grocery store, she continued working for the Colonial and West Theatres, Temple and Carroll Bookstore, the Parkway Drive Inn, Strand Harvest Cream Bakery and the Sunbeam Distributors of baked goods. She finished her career working thirty-two years for the City of Galesburg in the water billing department. Ruth also worked five years for Carl Sandburg College in the “College for Seniors” program. There she taught seniors to read a map and was their host for many learning tours around the United States.
Throughout her adult life Ruth found time to raise four children, (with the help of her husband, Frank), working full-time and was a volunteer for several community organizations, receiving several awards. Ruth’s love of baseball began as a teenager when she played catcher for the Bill Scrapper’s Young Woman’s Baseball Team.
She served as the secretary for the Illinois Commissioner of the Central Illinois Collegiate Baseball League for sixteen years, was a board member of the Galesburg Pioneer College Baseball team as well as secretary, promotional director and president. She was the past chairperson of the sporting events committee for the City of Galesburg’s Sesquicentennial celebration in 1986.
Ruth and Frank co-founded the City’s Annual Fishing Derby for Kids, serving as chair for over twenty years. Ruth was a past member of the All-America City committee in 1993 and served on the board of directors for “Leadership Greater Galesburg” for several years. She also served as the past secretary of Local 1173 AFSCME. Ruth was a past member of the Professional Advisory Committee for Quality Care and served as technical director for the Lincoln-Douglas re-enactment in 1994. She was awarded a lifetime Gallery Membership from Western Illinois Area Agency as an Ageless Achiever!!! Ruth was most proud to have received the Thomas B. Herring Award in 2004 for Community Service.
Ruth was a member of the Galesburg Noon Day Rotary Service Club. She served as a vocational director; she chaired several committees and was awarded the Community
Service Leader Award. She was a Paul Harris Fellow and was a recipient of the Verne W. Dower Rotary Exemplary Service Award.
Ruth was a faithful and active member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She was a past member of the Conference of Churches. She served on the church council, was president of the WELCA, (Women of Trinity) Circle 5 leader, Social Service committee chair and Fisherman for several years. She also chaired the Trinity reading program for students at Steele School.
Ruth also was a member of the Soangetaha Country Club. Above all she loved to collect antiques. She loved to bake. She loved to travel. She was an avid sports fan, especially the Chicago Cubs. And she loved her family and her life.
In December of 1975, her son Frank shared his gift with Ruth and the family, of practicing the technique of transcendental meditation (TM)
Ruth continued this practice until her death.
Left to cherish her memories are her children, Patricia Anne (Bob) Hanner of Normal, Illinois, John D. (Mary Hepner) Pecsi of Keithsburg, Illinois, and Jane Elizabeth Cox of Galesburg; her daughter-in-law, Dixie Pecsi of Galesburg; seven grandchildren, Eric (Lainen) Graff, Carly (Kurt) Daniels, Jenny (Scott) Nielsen, Nikki (Aaron) Johnson, John Pecsi, Randi Jo (Connor Smith) Cox and Jarod (Kaitlyn Godsil) Cox; and ten great grandchildren, Easton and Csilla Daniels, Charlie, Grace and Emerson Johnson, Colton and Ethan Graff, Finn and Kade Nielsen and Vada Smith. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Frank, her son, Franklin H. Pecsi on October 9, 2021, two brothers, Bill Kemmitt and Donald Johnson, her sister, Jane E. Myers and her special friend Albert Dickson in 2015.
Visitation is scheduled from 10:00-Noon, Friday, August 1, 2005, at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Galesburg Chapel. Funeral services will follow at the chapel at Noon, with Rev. Knight Wells officiating. She will be laid to rest next to her husband, Frank, in Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Ruth would like memorials to be given to Trinity Lutheran Church. In true Ruth fashion, her family has requested Chicago Cubs or any sports attire to be worn for her services. Online condolences may be offered at www.h-p-w.com
