Rude, Charles "Randy" 1955 - 2023
RUDE, LARSON, VINE, IMOEHL, SMEDSRUD, HALVERSON, SWINBURN
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/25/2023 at 11:23:59
Charles "Randy" Rude, age 67 of Decorah, IA passed away on Monday, March 20, 2023, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon.
Visitation will be from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 26, 2023, at the Helms Funeral Home, 604 South Ave in Decorah. Burial will be at St. Benedict Catholic Cemetery in the spring.
Randy was born November 20th, 1955 in Cedar Falls, IA, the first child and son of Chuck & Genevieve (Larson) Rude.
His family first lived in Cedar Falls for about 11 years and moved back to Decorah in 1966. Randy attended Decorah Community Schools and graduated with the Class of 1974. During his Senior Year of high school, Randy began dating Susan Lynn Vine and they married on August 24th, 1974. Their only child, Brandon, was born in 1979. Randy and Sue later divorced in 1981, but many great times came from their marriage. They remained connected until the end.
Randy worked for Ruby’s Restaurant during and right after high school, which was owned and operated by his Uncle Harry and Aunt Ruby (Rude) Olson. In 1975, Randy began a memorable career in Auto Mechanics with Weis Buick of Decorah. He spent the next 30 years at his craft and made many friends and countless memories along the way. He spent countless hours fixing his son’s vehicles over the years, which gave them a lot of time to talk about life, laugh hard and make a bond forever.
Over those 30 years, Randy lived his life in a way only he could do. He was Batman, and so many knew him. A good time was always had and he would light up a room to bring it to another level. His love of muscle cars, local stock car racing, NASCAR, bowling and great rock-n-roll music were the source of a lot of pride and joy for him. Of these, he was especially proud of his 1967 Plymouth Barracuda, Decorah Stock Car Races, Dale Earnhardt Sr. racing, bowling a perfect 300 game and enjoying more rock music than could be listed.
At his core, Randy loved his family and friends most, being kind-hearted and open-minded with them. He said in later years that his Grandchildren were his reason for living. There will surely be plenty of Grandpa Randy stories to tell. So many people over the years have given fond memories of his humor, companionship, good nature and good times. The amount of material for a book on his life’s journey would surely fill the room.
His fantastic ride ended with his family by his side, but everyone who knew him will continue it.
Randy’s family would like to give a special thank you to the Skilled Care facilities that cared for him in his later years, recently Claddaugh Senior Living in Caledonia, MN and Northgate Care Center in Waukon, IA, as well as Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice Care.
Randy was preceded in death by his parents, Chuck and Genevieve Rude.
He is survived by his son: Brandon (Jen) Rude of Decorah; three grandchildren; Sydney (Tanner) Imoehl of Decorah, Mitchell Rude of Decorah and Lydia Rude of Decorah and one great-grandchild, Gracelynn Imoehl; Four siblings; Joan (Donn) Smedsrud of Waukon, Sue (Mike) Halverson of Decorah, Mary (Tom) Swinburn of Decorah and Jeff Rude of Minneapolis, MN; Special Friend Marcia Ray of Winona, MN, along with her daughter Erin Anderson and granddaughter Evy.
Source: Helms Funeral Home database
St. Benedict Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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