Obituary of Yvonne L. Ruehl

Yvonne Alexander Ruehl, 91, passed from this life on Saturday, September 7, 2024.

Yvonne was born in Blue Island, Illinois March 7, 1933 to Fred and Bess Alexander.  She received a medical record degree and then attended the University of California, San Francisco, for specialized training in Hospital Cancer Registry/Cancer data collection.  She worked for the American Cancer Society, Illinois Division for 18 years with a dual appointment to the American College of Surgeons, acting as a consultant to Illinois hospitals, to aid them in obtaining approval of their cancer programs. In collaboration with senior leadership of the American Cancer Society, Illinois Division, the first global studies involving the collection and printing of actual individual hospital’s patient cancer survival statistics naming the individual hospital in Illinois were achieved by Yvonne. She was an active and honorary lifetime member of both the Chicago Area Cancer Registrars Association (CACRA) and the State Association (CRI).  Upon retirement she moved to Lake Geneva, WI., where she was an avid and award-winning gardener. In addition, Yvonne was a member of St. Francis de Sales Hilltoppers senior group, Walworth County Senior Travel Club, and a volunteer for the Lake Geneva Food Pantry.

Her proudest accomplishments were her two children, the late Scott Magliola, and Kimberly Berman (the late Mark) of Palatine, IL, along with her 3 grandchildren, Michaela Berman of Chicago; Sam Berman of Chicago; and Leah Berman of Los Alamos, NM including many nieces and nephews.  She was married to the late Paul Ruehl in 1976.  She had 4 older sisters who preceded her in death, Juanita Mindeman (Les), Pat Wagner (Norman), Jean Kinnamon (Stan), and Jacqueline Seaver (Ken).

Visitation for Yvonne will be held Monday, September 23, 2024, from 9:30 am until the time of the memorial mass at 10:00 am at St. Benedict Church/St. Mary Magdalene Parish, 2339 York St., Blue Island.  Cremation is private. In lieu of flowers donations in Yvonne Ruehl’s memory to the American Cancer Society, Illinois Division may be made.