Ralph Lee Rudd

1934 - 2021

Ralph Lee Rudd passed away peacefully on August 29, 2021 at AMITA Health Hospice Care in Elk Grove Village, IL.

Born on September 17, 1934, in Buffalo, New York, he was the oldest of three sons born to Harold H. Rudd and Margaret M. (O'Hara) Rudd.

Shortly, after he was born, his family moved to Kenosha, WI, where he would live the first half of his life. He was an alum of the first graduating class of St. Mary's High School in 1953 where he relished in displaying his athletic talents participating in basketball, football, and his lifelong passion of baseball. His ambition was to play professional baseball and his high school classmates voted him most likely to be a center fielder for the Chicago White Sox. After graduation from high school, he took over the Rudd Plumbing Company in Kenosha. Nancy Aiello of Racine, WI, walked into his life in 1954 and they married shortly after on his 21st birthday on September 17, 1955. Sadly, their marriage was short lived as Nancy passed away in October of 1956 of a rare form of tuberculosis.

He served two years in the Army as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. While in the service, he played on the Army Baseball Team and achieved an Army Marksmanship Expert Rifle Qualification Badge. After leaving the service, he became an avid bowler in various leagues in Kenosha once having been paired with Dick Weber in an amateur tournament.

Although, he never made it to the Major Leagues, his love of baseball continued as he attended numerous MLB All Star and World Series games. He was an avid fan of the Bronx Bombers, especially Joltin' Joe Dimaggio, the Chicago Cubs (after moving to Illinois in 1968) and the Green Bay Packers. He raised two children from his second marriage, Kathleen and Ronald in Elgin, IL, where he worked for the Rungee Plumbing Company for many years. He continued his involvement with baseball later in life umpiring with the Tri-Counties Little League on Elgin's east side. He also enjoyed fishing while vacationing in northern Wisconsin, golfing and relishing a Packers win over the hapless Bears more times than not since the 1980's.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Nancy and his brother, Harold.

He is survived by his former wife, Inez (Moritsch) Rudd of Elgin, IL; two children: Kathleen (Kem) Ahlers of Raleigh, NC, and Ronald Rudd (Wendy) of West Dundee, IL; a brother, David (Theresa) Rudd of Kenosha, WI; and five grandchildren: Philip Alan Ahlers, Matthew Christopher (Christina) Ahlers, Anna Elizabeth Ahlers, Zoe Mei Rudd, and Olivia Rose Rudd; as well as many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.

Throughout his lifetime, Ralph gave to many charitable organizations. Donations can be made on his behalf to AMITA Health Hospice Care in Elk Grove Village, IL, or the Elgin National Little League.