Obituaries

Ruth P. Truckey, age 93, of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, passed away at the Ball Hospice House on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. She was born on January 31, 1932, in Hancock, Michigan, to Ovid and Hilda (Saari) Dolkey.

Ruth grew up in Ishpeming, Michigan, and graduated from Ishpeming High School with the Class of 1950. She married the love of her life, John “Jack” Truckey, on August 28, 1951, at St. John the Baptist Church in Marquette, Michigan, and they were together for sixty-two wonderful years. Ruth was an elementary school secretary at McKinley School for 17 years where she made an indelible impact on many students who later in life would make a point to approach and visit with her. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish, War Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Sault Country Club golf league, bridge club, and Michigan Club in Orange Beach, Alabama. She was spunky, with a zest for life. Ruth could entertain and cook for many without notice, a skill that Jack tested many times by bringing home unannounced guests. She was an avid gardener and excellent seamstress. She made wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, prom dresses, and many of her children’s clothes.

She had a mathematical mind which she tested with cribbage and in her bridge league into her nineties. Her competitive nature was evident in her bowling and golf leagues having posted a hole-in-one at the age of eighty-nine. No one enjoyed a spirted game of bean bag toss more than Ruth, and she usually won.

Following retirement, Ruth and Jack traveled extensively visiting her sister in California and driving through the country with her sister and brother-in-law around the U.S. Ruth and Jack loved visiting their daughter in Germany multiple times and exploring many places and countries throughout Europe. They spent three winters living with their daughter on a ranch in Hawaii learning true Hawaiian culture. Ruth celebrated her 65th birthday with a luau complete with ukulele music, local dancers, and singing. She always bragged about having flower leis up to her eyes. Orange Beach, Alabama, became their home-away-from home in the winter, and they welcomed family and friends to join them in all the wonderful things the beautiful area has to offer.

Ruth is survived by her five children: Julie (Bill) McLeod of Sault Ste. Marie, Jacquie Truckey of Negaunee, John (Debbie) Truckey of Central Lake, Jodine Sicinski (Tim Crays) of DeTour, Jill (Tom) Coates of Sault Ste. Marie. Bob Lahde of Ishpeming was a loving companion and dedicated caregiver to Ruth for several years. Also surviving are nine grandchildren: Jillian (Austin) Miller, Adam Truckey, Matthew (Bethany) Truckey, and Sarah (Roslyn Cordalis) Truckey; Madeline, Nicholas, and Sammy Sicinski; and Cecily and Tommy (Allyson) Coates. In addition, she is survived by eight great-grandchildren: Adelyn, Austin, and Asher Miller; Jackson and Lauren Truckey; John and Victor Truckey; and Collins Coates. Also surviving are two sisters: Florence Kakkuri and Lorraine Mutka of Ishpeming and sister-in-law Mary Apple of Marquette.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Jack, her parents, brother Clarence Dolkey, her brothers and sisters-in-law Richard Mutka, Harold Kakkuri, Willard (Maryrene) Truckey, Patricia (Tom) Wiseman, Robert (Dorothy) Truckey, George (Sue) Truckey, Robert Apple, Barbara Truckey, Ellen Dolkey, and grandson MacIver McLeod.

Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. on June 2, 2025, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with celebrant Father Matthew Chartier. Interment to follow at Riverside Cemetery, then a luncheon at the Elks’ Lodge in Sault Ste. Marie.

Memorial donations can be made to the Hospice of the EUP, 308 W. 12th Ave. Sault Ste. Marie. MI, 49783.