Lewiston Lewiston Morning Tribune,
John Rudolph Jr., 76, Lewiston, Thursday, March 1, 2007
John Rudolph Jr., retired Lewiston educator, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007.
John was born Feb. 8, 1931, in Meridian, Idaho, to John and Mary Rudolph. He began his schooling at a one-room schoolhouse southwest of Meridian, and attended various schools in the Boise valley. He graduated in 1948 from Nampa High School.
John received a federal civil service appointment as an apprentice machinist in 1949 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. This apprenticeship was administered by Vallejo (Calif.) College, which allowed him to participate in football and other activities which he enjoyed greatly. During this time, he enlisted in the active Naval Reserves, becoming a petty officer and qualified in submarines. He was in the Submarine Division 12-11, located at USS Sunfish in Vallejo.
On Feb. 20, 1954, John married "his girl," Wanda Lee Makinson. While in Vallejo, they had their first son, Daniel. In 1957 they decided to settle down and raise their family. They moved back to Idaho, in the Boise-Nampa area, where three more children were born: Christine, Becky and Mary. In 1961, John was presented the opportunity to teach machine shop at Lewiston High School. The family moved to Lewiston and were amazed at how wonderful the community was to them. While in Lewiston, their youngest son, John, was born.
John loved teaching and coaching football! The students, teachers and administration of the Lewiston School District and the community provided John with friendship and joy. He received the Idaho High School Activities Association's Distinguished Service award, and in 1995 he received the Teacher of the Year award for Lewiston. John retired from teaching in 1995.
He enjoyed skin diving, fishing, hunting, stamp and coin collecting, and woodworking. He also enjoyed helping his loving wife pastor at Lapwai Valley Presbyterian Church; he made so many wonderful friends there. So many other things brought John joy: the fellowship of working Walk to Emmaus retreats, going on two mission trips to Kenya, growing dahlias, being "Coach," and visiting with friends. Most of all, John loved spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Wanda Rudolph; two sisters: Marjorie Lewis and husband Ted of Nampa, and Vera Miller and husband Bob of Union, Ore.; his five children: Dan Rudolph and wife Rusanne of Lewiston, Christine Clayton and husband Doug of Juliaetta, Becky Camp and husband Steve of LaCrosse, Wash., Mary Bales and husband Tim of Melba, Idaho, and John Rudolph and Shelley of Lewiston; his nine grandchildren: Jennifer Shubert and husband Joel of Clarkston, Heather Lawless and husband Rick of Lewiston, Daniel Rudolph and wife Liz of Lewiston, Amy Bales of Boise, Stephanie Outen and husband Rob of Caldwell, John B. Rudolph of Spokane, Timothy Bales of Lewiston, and Whitney and Sandy Rudolph, both of Lewiston; two great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and countless friends.
A viewing will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home in Lewiston. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Clarkston First Presbyterian Church.
The family suggests memorials be made to Lapwai Valley Presbyterian Church, or to the John Rudolph Memorial Fund through the Lewiston Independent Foundation for Education (contact the Lewiston School District office at 208-748-3000 for more information).
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The Bengal's Purr, October 18, 1963,