Christopher Rudzinski

RANTOUL – Christopher Michael Rudzinski, age 28 of Rantoul, died Friday (Oct. 16, 2009) near Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered while conducting military operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was a staff sergeant in the United States Army Military Police Corps.

Christopher was born in Augsburg, Germany, on Aug. 29, 1981, a son of Michael Charles Rudzinski and Bonita Kay (Jackson) Rudzinski.

In addition to his wife Caroline and son Ryan, Christopher is survived by his parents, Michael and Natalie Rudzinski of Rantoul; his sister, Annette Dalton of Fisher; three brothers, Private First Class Jordan Rudzinski, Germany, and Christian and Alexander Rudzinski of Rantoul; nephews Ian and Sean Dalton of Fisher; his paternal grandmother, Janet Rudzinski of Canton, Mich.; maternal grandparents David and Valerie Grindley of Urbana; a great-grandmother, Nadine Legue of Urbana; and several aunts and uncles and their families, Eric and Judy Rudzinski of Chicago, David and Gwen Rudzinski of Port Angeles, Wash., Oliver and Martina Hemming of Atlanta, Ga., Erick and Sonya Grindley of St. Joseph and James and Martha Jackson of San Antonio, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Bonita, and his beloved sister, Jacqueline Rudzinski.

Christopher was a 1999 graduate of Rantoul Township High School, where he was active in the marching band, madrigal and Help Peers.

Prior to coming to Rantoul, he lived in Germany, Arizona and Washington.

Growing up a military brat and being part of a family with a tradition of military service in the U.S. armed forces dating back to the Second World War, he enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 17 and was sworn into service by his father, Michael.

He was an M1 Abrams tank armor crewman and attended basic training and the armor school at Fort Knox, Ky., where he was subsequently assigned to Germany and deployed on his first tour to support the peacekeeping operations in Kosovo. Christopher was later transferred to Fort Hood, Texas, and assigned to the 4th Infantry Division and subsequently deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Toward the end of this deployment, he became ill with leishmaniasis and was medically evacuated to Walter Reed Army Hospital for treatment.

Christopher re-enlisted for service as a military police officer and graduated from MP training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., in 2004. He was again assigned to Germany where he met Caroline and later deployed to Iraq on his third tour, this time training and mentoring Iraqi policemen. While home on leave during the tour, he married the love of his life, Caroline.

Upon returning to Germany, Christopher resumed his police duties and later became an investigator and MP desk sergeant. In September 2008, Caroline gave birth to Ryan, and Christopher added "devoted dad" to his responsibilities. His last military assignment was to Fort Stewart, Ga., where he deployed to Afghanistan with the 293rd MP Company on his last tour and subsequently died in the service of his country.

His military awards included the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, four Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, three Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Driver's Badge, and the German Schutzenschnur Badge in Gold.

Christopher had a love of cars, fishing, video games, friends, family and Walt Disney World.

Visitation is on Sunday, Oct. 25, at Rantoul Township High School, 200 Sheldon, Rantoul, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. A memorial service and celebration of his life will follow at 7 p.m. at the Rantoul Township High School Gymnasium. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Malachy Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Monday with a graveside service following at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Rantoul.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ryan A. Rudzinski Scholarship Fund c/o Community Plus Federal Credit Union in Rantoul or to any veteran's service organization of the donor's choice.