Obituaries
PEORIA~ Elaine S. Rule of Peoria, formerly of Mapleton, died at 2:50 p.m., Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at Apostolic Christian Restmor in Morton.
She was born Florence Elaine Speck on Monday, January 27, 1936 at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, the youngest child of George Peter Speck, Sr. and Florence M. Sapp Houlihan Speck. She married Michael T. Rule on March 2, 1973 in Manito, Mason County, Illinois. He preceded her in death on May 2, 2023. She was formerly married to William V. Sommerfield from 1957 to 1961.
Surviving are one sister-in-law, Linda Speck of Wanganui, NZ; six nieces and nephews, four half-nieces and nephews; and several of the next generations. She was preceded in death by her mother on January 2, 1972; her father on July 16, 1992; a half-sister, Mrs. Colleen (Vernon, deceased) Houlihan Boken on March 23, 2012; a sister, Roberta Sathoff on September 14, 2017; a brother, George P. Speck, Jr. on February 5, 2017; half brothers, John Speck on November 13, 1942, G. Phillip Speck on January 13, 2005, and Kenneth Speck on November 11, 1999; and Phillip’s son, Geoffrey Speck on November 13, 1978.
Elaine’s life’s work was in education. She taught at Limestone High School in Bartonville, Illinois for 34 years, 31 in mathematics and English and 3 in Chapter 1. She holds the record there for the greatest number of different courses taught-about 25. She retired in June 1992.
She graduated summa cum laude from Bradley University with a BS in 1958 and an MA in 1960 and did post graduate work at Illinois State University, Elmhurst College, Northern Illinois University, College of St. Thomas in Minnesota, and Augustana.
She graduated with top honors from East Peoria Community High School in East Peoria and LaSalle Consolidated Grade School in Creve Coeur. For grade 6 she attended Tripp Grade School, a one-room schoolhouse and for grades 1-5, she attended Vicic Grade School, a two-room elementary school, both in Vicic Addition in rural East Peoria.
Elaine was a genealogy enthusiast and accumulated hundreds of pages of family tree material for her family and the Rule family. As she said, “I also do branches, but sometimes I do twigs and even buds on the twigs.” Families of several in-laws and friends have also been included in her research. She was a would-be poet and author. She wrote Starvation Point, a book based on her life about a young girl growing up in the post-Depression days in rural East Peoria, where she lived for many years.
She was a kind, gentle woman, yet passionate about her conservative ideals. Music, singing, and dancing were part of her earlier years. She sang in the school choirs and musical productions, played a little piano, and attended all the school dances and proms in high school and college. She enjoyed the academic life and also liked solving puzzles of all kinds, working and playing on the computer, gardening and caring for her “5 acre estate” as she called it, and traveling. She traveled all over the United States and Canada and dipped down into Mexico. Her favorite trips were to Alaska, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Europe.
She was a member of St. Augustine’s Women’s League, IEA/NEA, and IFT/AFT for many years. She was a charter member of Central Illinois Science Exchange, (CISE) and was co-chair from 1994-1997. She was a Christian and attended several churches throughout her life. She was active in Cursillo (#197) and TEC for many years.
Her memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, June 2, 2023 at Wright & Salmon Mortuary. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Following services, the remains of Elaine and her husband will be laid to rest together in Parkview Cemetery in Peoria.
Memorial contributions may be given to Susan G. Komen.
To express condolences online, visit www.wrightandsalmon.com
Upcoming Events
Visitation
2
Jun
2416 N. North Street
Peoria, IL 61604
Memorial Service
2
Jun
2416 N. North Street
Peoria, IL 61604
Cemetery Details
Location
2001 N University
Peoria, IL 61604
