• FIRST RESPONDERS

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Janick’s time assessment is complicated by the fact that La Salle’s borders are more expansive than people think. There are points east of Interstate 39 that are within La Salle city limits but where Ottawa might be quicker to reach.

Cathie Edens, director of Oglesby Ambulance Service, said transporting to Spring Valley adds a projected 9 minutes to Oglesby’s transfer times. A bigger concern is the potentially challenging scene at Spring Valley’s northside emergency entrance.

“There is a hill coming into the area and leaving the unloading area,” Edens said. “That leaves little room for more

Obituaries

Ronald Rutkowski

Born: January 23, 1951 in Peru, IL

Died: January 23, 2023 in Peru, IL

Ronald Rutkowski, 72, of Oglesby, passed away Monday, January 23, 2023 at St. Margaret’s Health, Peru. A prayer service will be 10:00 AM Friday, January 27, 2023 at the Mueller Funeral Home, Peru followed by Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 AM at St. Joseph’s Church, Peru with Rev. Gary Blake, pastor officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Webster Park. Visitation will be 4-7:00 PM, Thursday at the funeral home.

Mr. Rutkowski was born on January 23, 1951 in Peru to Alfred and Helen (Narczewski) Rutkowski. He was a graduate of St. Bede Academy. He married Barbara Zellmer on January 22, 1972 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Peru.

Ronald worked at Maze Nail in Peru for 42 years retiring as a Production Manager/Assistant Plant Manager. He was an avid boater. He loved spending vacations with family and than a couple of units to unload at a time. Remember, this is the same door for 911 patients and transfers going in and out of this hospital.”

And that assumes that ambulances aren’t also negotiating around passenger sedans driven by people bringing loved ones to the hospital.

Linda Burt, vice president of quality and community services for St. Margaret’s, said while the EMS impact has been buried in the avalanche of news related to the closing – “We are working on a communication plan to address this” – St. Margaret’s is developing a plan to limit only emergency transports at that entrance.

Burt said the EMS directors raised “all valid concerns,” but she also pointed out the increased transport times will fall within workable ranges, especially when compared to other regions. She cited instances in western Bureau County where transport times can run up to 30 minutes.

“We just have to be cognizant of how to manage our patient while in transport,” Burt said. “Paramedics have the capability and skill to manage these patients for more than a few minutes in the back of an ambulance. We give them the tools to identify cardiac rhythm disturbances or diabetic emergencies.”

Burt said there may be certain life-threatening situations where a helicopter is used to transport a patient directly to a larger facility that has a higher level of care, such as with a cardiac event. friends at the Lake of the Ozarks. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Church, Peru, Spring Valley Boat Club, serving as the Commodore from 2002-2004, and the Eagle’s Club in Peru. Ronald’s generosity and care for others lives on as he was a donor to the Gift of Hope.

With the Peru hospital closure, Utica ambulances may transport most of their patients to OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center, instead of Spring Valley’s St. Margaret’s.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara of Oglesby; a daughter, Shannon (David) Gorisek of Mark; two sons, Andrew (Elise) Rutkowski of Lisle and Kevin (Katie) Rutkowski of Elburn; six grandchildren, Kyle and Hannah Gorisek and Aiden, Evan, Annalynn and Brynn Rutkowski and a brother, Edward (Janice) Rutkowski of Spring Valley.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, JoAnne Rutkowski and a brother, Alfred Rutkowski Jr.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Special Olympics, Muscular Dystrophy Association or to the family for memorials to be established at a later date.

The online guestbook may be viewed and remembrances shared at www.MuellerFH. com.

Adele Bertha (Engel) Willmeroth, 99, of Peru, passed on January 22, 2023. Arrangements entrusted to Mueller Funeral Home, Peru. Additional information: www. MuellerFH.com.

How to submit: Send obituary information to putnamobits@ shawlocal.com or call 815-632-2534. Notices are accepted until 5 p.m. for Wednesday’s edition. Obituaries also appear online.