Bruce Rauner

Rauner in 2016, 182nd Airlift Wing from USA

Birth Name: Bruce Vincent Rauner

Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Date of Birth: February 18, 1956

Ethnicity:
*father – German, English, distant Swiss-German and Scottish
*mother – Swedish

Bruce Rauner is an American businessperson, philanthropist, and politician. A Republican, he served as Governor of Illinois, from January 12, 2015 to January 14, 2019.

Bruce is the son of Ann and Vincent Rauner. He has stated:

I’m the oldest of four kids. Half-Swedish, Half-German. German Catholic, Swedish Lutheran. My parents argued about it, I was raised Episcopalian.

While Bruce’s mother is indeed of entirely Swedish descent, Bruce’s father has German and English ancestry, with distant Swiss-German and Scottish, roots. Bruce’s paternal grandfather was of entirely German descent, while Bruce’s paternal grandmother had English, some German, and distant Swiss-German and Scottish, ancestry.

Bruce is married to Diana Mendley. He has three children with his former wife Elizabeth Wessel; and three children with Diana.

Bruce’s paternal grandfather was Franklin Joseph Rauner (the son of Vincent Rauner and Mary Ann Illg). Franklin was born in Michigan. Vincent was the son of ethnic German parents, Mathias Rauner and Anna Ebert/Eberl. Mathias was born in Plzeň, Czech Republic. Mary Ann was the daughter of John Leo Illig, who had German ancestry, and of Magdalene Smith, whose parents were ethnic Germans, from Alsace-Lorraine in France.

Bruce’s paternal grandmother was Kathryne Merriman (the daughter of Harry J. Merriman and Nora M. Spaulding). Kathryne was born in Michigan. Harry was the son of George W. Merriman and Jennie Sherman. Nora was the daughter of Charles A. Spaulding, whose mother had German ancestry, and of Catherine/Katherine J. Putney.

Bruce’s maternal grandfather was named Clarence L. Erickson. Clarence was born in Wisconsin, to Swedish parents.

Bruce’s maternal grandmother was Viola B. Wedin (the daughter of David Wedin and Selma J. Wahlsten). Viola was born in Wisconsin. David was Swedish. Selma was born in Lake Town, Wisconsin, to Swedish parents.

Sources: Genealogy of Bruce Rauner (focusing on his father’s side) – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Genealogies of Bruce’s paternal grandparents, Franklin Joseph Rauner and Kathryne (Merriman) Rauner – http://www.findagrave.com

Bruce’s paternal grandfather, Franklin Joseph Rauner, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Bruce’s paternal great-grandmother, Mary Ann Illig – https://familysearch.org

Bruce’s paternal great-grandmother, Mary Ann Illig, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Bruce’s paternal great-great-grandfather, John Leo Illig – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Genealogy of Bruce’s paternal great-great-grandmother, Magdalene Smith – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Genealogy of Bruce’s paternal great-grandfather, Harry J. Merriman – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Bruce’s paternal great-grandmother, Nora M. Spaulding – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Bruce’s paternal great-grandmother, Nora M. Spaulding (through Nora’s sister, Marie Spaulding) – http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Bruce’s paternal great-great-grandfather, Charles A. Spaulding, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Bruce’s mother on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of Bruce’s mother – http://www.legacy.com

Bruce’s maternal grandfather, Clarence L. Erickson, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Bruce’s maternal grandmother, Viola B. Wedin, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Viola B. Wedin on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org