Daryle Bertram Rudolph, 75, of Folsom, Calif., died Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, at Mission Carmichael Medical Center.
Daryle was born Aug. 29, 1933, at Fort Dodge, Iowa, the youngest of seven children of Herbert J. and Bernice (Stafford) Rudolph. He was baptized at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge and confirmed at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in New Richland. He graduated from New Richland High School in 1951. On Feb. 19, 1958, he married Gloriann Johnson, also of New Richland, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mason City, Iowa.
Daryle retired as a Chief Petty Officer from the U.S. Coast Guard on Jan. 1, 1984. He was an aircraft mechanic and crew chief for search and rescue missions. He had 29 years of military service, having also served in the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army. During his breaks in service, he was a telegrapher for the M&St.L, Alaska and Southern Pacific Railroads, and an A&P mechanic for American Airlines. Being an aviation enthusiast, he found his niche in the Coast Guard. After military retirement, he was a federal employee for the Air Force at the Sacramento Air Logistics Center for 15 years until his retirement in 1999.
When younger, Daryle enjoyed flying and held private pilot’s licenses for both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Later, he enjoyed downhill skiing at Sierra-Lake Tahoe ski resorts. College football was his favorite sport, and he was an avid U.C.-Berkeley (Cal) Golden Bears fan, attending many of their home games. He was a voracious reader of books on World War II history, aviation, railroads and biographies on presidents. But his most joyous times were those spent with his family. With his calm, easy-going manner, infants and children of all ages were naturally drawn to him.
Daryle is survived by his wife of 50 years, daughters Dixie (Kurt) Weidner of Novato, Calif., and Penny (Chris) Micco of Petaluma, Calif.; sons Gordon Rudolph and Vann Rudolph of Folsom; six grandchildren, Luke and Jillian, Jack and Natalie, and Eric and Austin; brothers Wayne (Claudine) Rudolph of New Braunfels, Texas, and Eugene (Pat) Rudolph of Wasilla, Ark.; stepfather-in-law Raymond Hendrickson of New Richland; sisters-in-law Noreen (Gene) Lewis of Haleyville, Ala., and Dawn (Jeff) Thompson of Byron; brothers-in-law Curt (Sandy) Hendrickson and Keith (Laurie) Hendrickson of New Richland; and numerous other relatives and friends. He will be missed by all.
Preceding him in death were his parents, sisters Jeanette (in early infancy) and Beverly Strapko; brothers Warren and Dale Rudolph; step-mother Ann (Springborg-Bales) Rudolph, and mother-in-law Bernice Hendrickson.
A memorial service will be held Oct. 17, 2008, at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Folsom, with the Rev. Thomas Rhodes officiating. There was private inurnment at Folsom’s Lakeside Cemetery & Mausoleum.