Chaplain Ruckman grew up on a family farm in west central Illinois. He attended Western Illinois University and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture Education. He taught High School Agriculture in Iowa and Illinois.

He attended Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, graduating with a Master’s of Divinity degree. He is an ordained Pastor in the Lutheran Church –Missouri Synod. He has served congregations in Iowa and Illinois before moving to Wisconsin to serve as Chaplain at the House Of Correction. Currently he serves at the House of Correction Monday – Friday. On Wednesday evenings he leads an ex-offender Support Ministry at Mission of Christ Lutheran Church. He is preaching assistant at Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Franklin and occasionally preaches at Mission of Christ in Milwaukee.

He is married to his high school sweetheart, RoseAnn and they live in Sturtevant. They have been blessed with 3 children. Chad, his wife Joy and their son Justin live in Illinois where Chad is a parts manager for an Agricultural Supply company and Joy is a cosmetologist. Cara, her husband Josh and daughter Emma live in Minnesota where Cara is a Chiropractor and Josh is the manager of Pot Bellied Sandwich Works. Caitlyn is a junior at Racine Lutheran High school.