L.L. "Rudy" Rudiger

1922 - 2005

L.L. "Rudy" Rudiger, 82, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005, in Mansfield.

Funeral: 10 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church of Mansfield. Burial: Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Blessing Funeral Home.

Rudy was born and raised in Manlius, Ill. He was an accomplished athlete, student and a 1947 graduate of Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. In the late 1940s, he was a teacher and coach in Tampico, Ill., and an Air Force reservist. Returning to active duty during the Korean War, Rudy obtained a regular commission and continued his Air Force career for another 22 years before retiring in January 1971. A veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, Rudy piloted bombers and transporters, accumulating over 10,000 flight hours as a command pilot. He was the recipient of many military decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Award. After his Air Force retirement, he returned to teaching AFJROTC in St. Charles, Mo.; Wiesbaden, Germany; and Denton and Burleson. He retired from teaching in 1985.

Rudy was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Imogene, and wife of 17 years, Dee Coleman.

Survivors: Wife, Loise of Mansfield; sons, Randy Rudiger and wife, Carolyn, of Hideaway and Tom Rudiger and wife, Shannon, of Arlington; grandchildren, Christina Rudiger, Brian Rudiger, Tracy Inman, Clay Rudiger and Tara O'Keefe; six great-grandchildren; stepgrandchildren, Bryan and John Carl; four stepgreat-grandchildren; brother, Robert Rudiger of Manlius, Ill.; three stepchildren; and four stepgrandchildren.