Obituary of Jacqueline Marie Booth

Jacqueline (Jackie) Marie Booth of Winthrop Harbor transitioned to Heaven peacefully on 1/1/23 surrounded by her beloved family.

She was born August 30^th, 1944, the daughter of Jacob Ruhl and Mary (Reigenborn) Ruhl in Chicago IL. She spent her youth on the Ruhl family farm in Antioch IL and attended Antioch High School where she graduated at the young age of 15, having skipped a couple of grades.  She married James Booth Sr. in 1968 and raised a family of 6 children while helping him run his excavating business. 

She was known for her sharp intelligence and wicked sense of humor. Her culinary skills and graciousness were legendary. If you were privy to one of her culinary secrets, she likely really loved you. She is fondly remembered as the “neighborhood mom”.  She loved a snarky poem, a great novel and sharing a dirty joke.  She & Jim shared countless adventures teaching their children the meaning of hard work, tending a massive garden, traveling to Mexico, and crossing the country in their motorhome. They took fishing trips from Canada to Key West bringing in everything from grouper to lake perch. (She never met a stone crab she wouldn't eat). She held a commercial fishing license in South Florida and was First Mate/navigator on the tiny 23ft MISS JACKIE out of Cudjoe Cay, FL for many years.

She is preceded in death by her parents Jacob & Mary, her husband James Booth.  Her siblings Donald Ruhl, Carol Ernstmeyer, James Ruhl and Mary Grice. As well as brother-in-law Chuck Clark.

Miss Jackie is survived by her children: Lorrie (Mike) Sellers, Randy (Sonja) Booth Sr., Peri (Allan “Barney” Koehn) Booth, Sean Booth Sr., Jamie (Rich) Shirling & James Booth, Jr.. Grandchildren: Randy (Kimberly) Booth Jr., Brian (Michelle) Booth, Matthew Sellers, Sean (Laura Montgomery) Booth Jr., Sara (Nick) Draeger, Jackson Booth, Aidan Booth, Hannah Kerber, Starr Booth, Shane Booth, and Selah Booth. Great grandchildren: Hunter Booth, Katrina Wells, Shannon Wells, Coy Molitor and Freya Ann Draeger.

She is also leaves behind her siblings; Joseph Ruhl, Thomas (Barb) Ruhl, Valerie (Bill Michels) Ruhl and sisters in law, Glenda Clark, Salene Ruhl, brother-in-law Albert Grice along with many cousins and dear nieces & nephews. Over the years Jackie had a host of wonderful caregivers who worked closely with her family seeing to her daily needs; Evelyn McCambridge, Alissyia Siordia, Rosa Beltran, Kristal Galicia, Robin Erickson & her niece Anna Grice.  Hospice Alliance in Pleasant Prairie provided amazing care for her in nurse Julie and Edith.  Our thanks to the Grande Prairie Health & Rehabilitation Center staff in helping make her transition easier on us.

A memorial prayer service will be held at St. Patrick’s Church 15000 W Wadsworth Road in Wadsworth IL at 2:00 PM on January 15^th with a luncheon to follow at the Gurnee Park District Dance Hall 4374 Old Grand Ave in Gurnee IL. In the spirit of Miss Jackie, wearing a pop of her favorite color red or bright white tennis shoes would make her smile. In lieu of flowers donations to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America would be greatly appreciated ( www.hdsa.org/get-involved/tribute-memorial-donations/ ).

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