Rudy F. Voldrich

  Rudolph “Rudy” Frank Voldrich, 90, of Wamego, Kansas, passed away Sunday, June 24, 2018, at his home.

 Rudy was born on November 11, 1927, in Czechoslovakia.  He longed to be free from the Czech repressive communist regime and escaped to occupied Germany.  His journey to America is a classic of the old immigration, the way things used to be:  working as a mechanic in an army motor pool in Germany, an appeal for immigrant status, finally given approval to join a sister sponsor who had married a soldier and settled in eastern Kansas.

 Rudy arrived in the United States in 1950, stayed briefly in New Jersey with a soldier he had met and then joined his sister in Kansas, where he made his home in Wamego.  A Nordic combined ski competitor, he soon began regular trips to Winter Park, Colorado, because the ski jumping reminded him of the one back home in Czechoslovakia.  He later served as a jumping judge at the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley.

 Rudy made his first hunting trip to Colorado in 1953 for deer.  Three years later, he discovered elk and a lifetime obsession.  He would never bother with deer again!  He continued his elk hunting trips to Colorado for over 50 years.

 In Wamego, Rudy operated an auto transmission repair shop and also owned a business installing swimming pools and selling golf carts.

 Rudy was united in marriage to Anna Maria Bootz in Westmoreland, Kansas, on July 20, 1963.  She preceded him in death.  He is survived by daughter Angela Sackrider of Wamego, KS, son Michael Voldrich of Morrison, CO, son Curtis Voldrich and wife Sally of Wichita, KS, and son Rudy Voldrich, Jr. of Salina, KS; ten grandchildren:  Renee, Sherry, Julie, Layla, Autumn, Chase, Kimberly, Christopher, Stephanie and Tiffany; and five great-grandchildren:  Daniel, Joshalyn, Cassandra, Karube and Cooper.  He was preceded in death by his sister Rose.

 Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be held for Rudy Voldrich at his home located at 404 E. 8th St. in Wamego on Sunday, July 15th, from 1:00 to 5:00.  Rudy's family invites all who knew & loved him to drop in to pay their respects & reminisce. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Pottawatomie County Caring Hearts Humane Society, and may be left in care of Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego, P.O. Box 48, 66547. Condolences may be left at www.stewartfuneralhomes.com.