Donald G. Rudert, age 90, passed away on May 2, 2020 at Green Acres Assisted Living Center in Fremont. Don was born on July 13, 1929 to Elry and Helen (Gould) Rudert in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended Staunton Military Academy and later Salem College, West Virginia. It was at this time at Salem College where he met his wife, Norma Johnson and they were married on July 30, 1949 in White Cloud. After working for his father for 5 years, Don decided to move to Norma’s hometown of White Cloud and founded the Rudert Agency in 1954 and enthusiastically took part in the life of a small town. He served on the White Cloud City Council and later served as Mayor, City Planning Commission, School Board, was a member of the Rotary Club, Summerfest Committee, White Cloud Fire Department, Newaygo County United Way, Saladin Shrine Temple of Grand Rapids, Shrine Motor Patrol, Two-Cylinder Club, and Antique Farm Equipment Club. Don was instrumental in arranging for NARCO to locate to White Cloud when the company was looking at locations to build their manufacturing facility. As a school bus driver, Don enjoyed driving the team bus to away games and working the scorer’s table for home basketball games. Don was an avid fan of Michigan State University Sports and The Pittsburgh Steelers. Don was a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Daytona Beach, Florida and served on the denomination’s General Council. He is survived by his wife Norma, their 5 children, Thomas (Cindy) Rudert of Mt. Pleasant; Eric (Michelle) Rudert of White Cloud and Traverse City; Sandra (Dan) Monahan of Birmingham, Michigan; Lauren (Willy) Marinez of Haslett; Gigi (David) Hines of Fremont, 15 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and his sister Carol (Burton) Douglass of Redmond, Oregon. Don’s family gathered at Crandell Funeral Home on May 4 to hold private farewells. A visitation and memorial service will be held at a later date at the Crandell Funeral Home in White Cloud with service dates and times to be announced. Interment will be in the White Cloud Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to the Seventh Day Baptist Church (checks payable to Crandell Funeral Home) or to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital (c/o Crandell Funeral Home) in memory of Don. Friends may send a condolence or share a memory with the Rudert family online at www.crandellfh.com. Arrangements by Crandell Funeral Home – White Cloud Chapel.
1 Comment
Wilma Babcock
5/13/2020 04:19:45 am
I have vivid memories of Mr. Rudert sitting in a big leather sleepy hollow style chair smoking his pipe and reading the newspaper many times when staying over with Gigi.
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