Rudolph Abrassart

RUDOLPH WESLEY ABRASSART, 88, longtime resident of St. Anne died Sunday, June 3, 2012, at Miller Sojourn in Kankakee. Rudy was born June 6, 1923 to Ferdinand Rudolph "Mack" Abrassart and Bessie Mae Smith Abrassart. Rudy grew up in the Kankakee, Pembroke, Bradley and Manteno areas. He fondly remembered Snooky, his precocious terrier. Rudy graduated from Manteno High School in 1942, where he was a miler and played offense and defense postions on the football team. He regularly attended the monthly class reunions during retirement. During high school, Rudy worked for tips at John Golding's Skating Rink in Manteno (where his girlfriend Grace used to skate), and for $18 a week at Wilbur Fink's Full-Service Filling Station in Kankakee, dressed in an all-white uniform. In 1942, Rudy volunteered for the U.S. Navy. He worked as a Machinist Mate (MOM2T) in the Auxiliary Engine Room and as a gunner on the LST 288. During WWII, Rudy saw action in the European Theater at both Omaha and Normandy Beaches (D-Day, 6-6-44, his 21st birthday), in Italy and North Africa, and in the Pacific Theater during the 1945 Philippine Liberation. While on leave, Rudy married his high school sweetheart Grace Adell Cochran on December 28, 1944, at the First Baptist Church parsonage in St. Anne by the Reverend Warren Faber. After Rudy was honorably discharged from the Navy, they lived in Chicago. He worked for the Burton Dixie Mattress Company (85 cents an hour), and Commonwealth Edison as a Boiler Cleaner (95 cents an hour). Rudy and Grace moved to the Wichert/St. Anne area and were owner/operators of the St. Anne Coffee Shop for 5 years, after which Rudy worked for the contractor Carl West, finishing and trimming homes in Aroma Park ($1.85 an hour). He then worked as a roofer for Elmer Laurent for 2-3 years. In March of 1957, Rudy worked as yardman for the Alexander Lumber Company; he was promoted to manager in January of 1969. When Alexander closed the St. Anne yard in 1981, Rudy worked as the assistant manager at the Kankakee yard; he retired in 1987. Rudy took correspondence courses from Moody Bible Institute, attended several Bible Conferences at Winona Lake, IN, and completed automotive classes at KCC. Besides being an avid gardener and coffee drinker, he was also a Bears fan. He enjoyed fishing, keeping bees, playing the harmonica and the guitar, dirtbike riding with his sons, gospel music, and singing duets with Grace, in a Barbershop quartet, and in the church choir. Rudy was preceeded in death by his parents, infant daughter Rachel Marie, elder sisters Verna Pomroy and Margarite "Peg" Dandurand Barnes, brother Benjamin, infant granddaughter Sarah Kay, his beloved wife of 63 years, Grace (8/08), daughter-in-law Karen (1/10), and son-in-law Vaughn Whitesell (8/10). Rudy is survived by his sister Deloris "Dode" (Chebanse); three sons: Wes of Kankakee, Steve (Kim), and Fred (Sharon) of St. Anne; two daughters: Beth Whitesell of Greensboro, NC, and Reba (David) Worth of St. Anne; 12 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; and several nephews and nieces. Burial with military honors will be in the St. Anne Township Cemetery on Tuesday, June 5 at 2 P.M. A memorial service will be held on Sunday June 10 at 6 P.M., at the First Baptist Church of St. Anne, where Rudy was a long-time member serving as song leader, high school Sunday School teacher, SS Superintendent, adult SS teacher, and Elder. Pastor Bob Wauchope will officiate. Rudy's family and friends will remember him as a modest man of steadfast character and sound wisdom. He read God's Word daily. He was self-sacrificing, disciplined and hard-working, a devoted husband and father. "Well done, Rudy, good and faithful servant. Enter into the Joy of your Lord."

Rudolph Abrassart

June 6, 1923 - June 3, 2012