Rudy A. Wolshlagel

SUN CITY - Rudy A. Wolshlagel was born to Therese and Jacob Wolshlagel in Kanaskat, Wash. on May 10, 1922 and passed away Dec 11, in Bellingham, Wash. After graduating from Enumclaw HS, Rudy joined the US Navy. He received his diesel training at Iowa State College and then served on a minesweeper in the South Pacific and in North Africa. He also was in charge of the motor pool while stationed in England. When honorably discharged, he returned home to marry Doreen Rice in June of 1948. Rudy then was offered a job with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife and began his career in Auburn. Daughter Karen was born in 1951 and they soon moved to the State Hatchery in Kendall where Rudy managed the hatchery until retirement. He loved that he had been retired longer than he worked. He and Doreen began traveling to Sun City, Ariz. to spend their winters and spent 27 years going back and forth from Washington to Arizona. He enjoyed golfing every week with his friends and more importantly he loved to volunteer. Rudy was a charter volunteer for the Seattle Mariners Spring Training where he volunteered for over 20 years. He also loved to volunteer for the Hole In One contest for the Fiesta Bowl, the NASCAR races, and in the rock museum in Sun City. He was very active and loved to go hiking with the hiking club or on a rock hound expedition. Rudy was a wealth of knowledge, a great storyteller, and always touched the lives of those he knew. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen; and wife, Doreen. He is survived by granddaughter, Connie (Neto); and grandson, Camron (Amanda); great-grandchildren, Barrett and Kendyl Brown; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be 12 p.m., Friday, December 27, 2013, at Greenacres Memorial Park in Ferndale, Wash. Arrangements by Whatcom Cremation & Funeral, 360-734-7073, wcremation.com