Ruth H. Nikolauzyk, nee Mueller, 84, of Belleville, IL, formerly of Fayetteville, IL, born September 30, 1941, in Smithton, IL, died Sunday, September 6, 2026, at La Bella of Mascoutah, Mascoutah, IL.
Mrs. Nikolauzyk was a longtime member and volunteer of St. Pancratius Catholic Church, Fayetteville, IL, for over 40 years. For the past five years, she had been attending St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church, Belleville, IL. Ruthie loved dancing, working on puzzles, and playing cards and board games. She also loved playing Bunco and Bingo and was an avid gardener.
Ruthie loved to socialize and could easily make friends. From 2022 to 2025, she lived at Grand Manor and met many wonderful neighbors. She loved celebrating every holiday and would get dressed up for all of them. She could be found wearing hats everywhere she went. She was a wonderful homemaker, babysitter, and quilter and she will be missed.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Kenneth Lee Nikolauzyk, whom she married August 15, 1963, and who died March 3, 2016; her parents, A. Fred and Olivia, nee Henken, Mueller; a daughter-in-law, Lisa Nikolauzyk; two brothers, Leon and Tom Mueller; a sister, Marilyn Peters; three brothers-in-law, James Wisdom, Ray Berkel, and Jerry Isaak; and a sister-in-law, Nina Mueller.
Surviving are two sons and a daughter, Clarence Nikolauzyk and Charles (Rose) Nikolauzyk, both of Fayetteville, IL, and Christine (Keith) Howard of Belleville, IL; nine grandchildren, Frank Nikolauzyk, Joseph Nikolauzyk, Ashley Smith, Nicole Miller, Melissa Glenn, Brandon Howard, Corey Howard, Olivia Reames, and Trey Howard; 14 great-grandchildren; 10 siblings, Phyllis Berkel, Barb (Charlie) Kaiser, Vivian Wisdom, Mike (Linda) Mueller, Aggie (Ken Dierkes) Isaak, Claire (Gene) Dinkelman, Norbert (Bonnie) Mueller, Monica (Al) Villy, Mark Mueller, and JoAnn (Patrick) Greer; a sister-in-law, Darlene “Dolly” Mueller; a brother-in-law, Jerry Peters; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to Grand Manor. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, September 13, 2026, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A memorial mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, September 14, 2026, at St. Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. William McGhee officiating. Burial of cremated remains will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO, at a later date.
