Elwyn L. Rudy

Elwyn L. Rudy, 95, of Freeport died Tuesday in Manor Court of Freeport. Mr. Rudy was born on a farm in Waddams Township, Stephenson County on July 4, 1916 and often referred to himself as a '˜firecracker baby' , the son of John and Ida (Nickels) Rudy. While working for a Shannon area farmer, he met Marian Schrader whom he married on April 29, 1937 at Dixon, Illinois. She died April 1, 1992. Elwyn and Marian farmed for many years in the McConnell and Shannon areas before they retired fron their farm near Shannon in 1975. They moved to German Valley and then Freeport. Before he began farming on his own, Elwyn worked various jobs including one with the W P A during the depression and helped build the bridge over the Pecatonica River near McConnell. Baptized in the Salem Lutheran Church of McConnell, he was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church of Shannon for 57 years. He was also a member of the Farm Bureau. Elwyn enjoyed family get -togethers; visits with his friend of 50 years, Delbert Groen, from whose father he rented a farm; county fairs, particularly the horse pulling contests; going out for dinner; mowing lawn with his Cub tractor and adhering to a rigid schedule, rising at 5:00 A.M. every morning, eating dinner at 11:30 A.M., milking cows at 5:00 P.M. and eating supper at 6:00 P.M. After retiring, only milking was removed from this schedule. But mostly he enjoyed watching over Marian'™s Peonies in his front yard, her favorite flowers and his. Mr. Rudy is survived by four children, Delores (Norman) Rosenstiel of Pearl City, Eugene (Kathleen) Rudy of Shannon, Donna Marshall of Austin, Texas and Sharon (Alan) VanRaalte of Tomahawk, Wisconsin. 19 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, two children, Keith and Betty. Two sisters, Ruth ( Rudy) Burgett and Dorthory (Rudy) Minnier and his brother Ralph Rudy. Funeral service for Mr. Rudy will be Saturday, 11:00 A.M. in Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home, Freeport. Rev. Steve Aram, pastor of Bethel United Methodist Church will officiate. Visitation will be Friday, 4:00-7:00 P.M. in Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home, Freeport. Burial will be in Brethren Cemetery, Shannon. A memorial has been established in his name. Please visit www.burketubbs.com to visit the online guestbook.