Rude, Royce 1923-2003

RUDE, SPAULDING

Posted By: Barb Kamradt
Date: 5/11/2004 at 20:34:19

ROYCE RUDE
Royce Rude, 79, of Smithland, died January 27, 2003, at a Sioux City Hospital. He was born in Soldier, Iowa, the son of Andrew and Zada (Spaulding)Rude on February 22, 1923. He grew up in the Smithland area and attended and graduated from Mapleton High School. He was a veteran of WWII having served with Navy Sea Bees on the Philippine Islands and the Island of Guam. Royce was united in marriage to Mary Jane Meier on March 28, 1948, at Climbing Hill. They farmed in the area until 1961. Royce worked as a carpenter for 2 years and then was employed as a heavy equipment operator for several area contractors-Roy Johnson, Olson & Wood, Olson, Anderson. He worked on the Garretson Drainage Ditch Project in Woodbury County. He retired in 1988. He had a love for horses having always had horses since he was a young boy. He participated in various parades and centennial celebrations throughout the area with his draft horse hitches and team and buggy. He was a member of the Northwest Iowa Chuck Wagon Association for many years. He also was a member of the Smithland American Legion Post #0666. Preceded him in death by his parents, wife Mary Jane in 1994, son Kevin in 2001, brother James and sister Katherine. He is survived by his children; Jim and special friend Janet Wagoner, of Hinton Iowa; Don of Sioux City; Nancy Jane Rude of Kansas City, Missouri; grandson Jacob;two sisters Margaret Gerdeman of Milford, Iowa; Mary Jane Bromander of Sloan; his in-laws Genevieve Knight of Transfer, Pennsylvannia; Robert and Dorothy Meier of South Sioux City, Nebraska; Alvin and Mary Frances Meier of Burlingame, California; Marvin and Frances Meier of Alamo, California; Everett Meier of Sgt. Bluff, Iowa; Lois Knoll of Omaha, Nebraska; Shirley and Charles Persinger of Sioux City; and Marleen Thomasson of Sioux City. Funeral services were held at the United Methodist Church in Smithland. Burial in Oto Township Cemetery at Oto.