Obituary of Gary Herman Rudnitski

Gary Herman Rudnitski, age 75, of Bloomington, MN, passed away 12/25/2023 at Fairview Hospital of natural causes. Gary was born 12/27/1947.

Preceded in death by parents Herman and Rose, his brother Roger and sister Arlene Zulawski.

Survived by his wife of 50 years Peggy (Shimmin) Rudnitski. Lovingly remembered by his two children Amy and Daniel Rudnitski, Brother Dan Rudnitski (Linda), Niece Cindy Heirigs (Bill), grandnephews Steven and Rollin, Niece Peggy Zulawski, Becky Zulawski (Fred) grandnephew Parker, Nephew Jeff Zulawski (Brenie). Cousins June, Rodney, Janice, Jean(deceased), Loree, Ione (Bill), Gordon (Judy), Wayne (Tanja), Neil (Jill), Faith, JoEllen (Kevin), Russ (Nancy), Marvin, Brian Zawacki. Sister-in-law Kerry Shimmin, Sister-in-law Nancy McAdam, Niece Molly Schaner (Zack) Grandniece Addy, Grandnephew Deacon, Niece Meghan McAdam (Nick Brown) Grandnieces Noli and Ruby, Brother-in-law Kelly Shimmin (Karen) Niece Devin Remker (Jonah), Nephew Chris, Many other family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

Graduated from Foley High School in 1965. Joined the Air Force 1965 and learned to work on planes such as the F-101 Voodoo (getting the sharded nick name of Voodoo medicine men) while serving state side. Eventually serving in the Vietnam war as a crew chief on the Bien Hoa air base. He was a Staff Sargent in the military when he decided to leave the service in 1969. He worked for Toro for a short time before moving on to Northwestern Bell/CenturyLink for 35-year career until he retired in 2007.

Growing up on a farm he had a lifelong love of tractors especially Farmall M’s. He loved going to outdoor events airshows, tractor shows (with the old saw mills), art shows, car shows, flea markets, and the MN state fair (always trying at least one new food). Also walking in nature in some of his favorite places the Old Cedar Bridge, Woodlake, Nine Mile Creek, Fort Snelling, and Duluth (watching the ships coming in). At home he enjoyed hobbies such as wood working, gardening (favorites tomatoes, green peppers and marigolds), meditation coloring, tinkering and fixing, creating and upcycling in his shop filled with tools and items saved for their possible later use. He had a running battle with the backyard squirrels over leaves thrown down after mowing and stolen tomatoes. He loved to cook and bake. Some of his favorite foods were good strong homemade horseradish, pickled herring, pickled beets, potato salad (family recipe), apple cake, cantaloupe and bananas. Playing the lottery every week from a Gopher 5/North 5 ticket to a few scratch offs was something he really enjoyed and occasional won. He liked reading the daily paper and paperbacks mysteries and spy novels. TV favorites WCCO, true crime, westerns, mysteries, Syfy, Red Green and British murder mysteries/comedies and nature/science documentaries were some of his favorites. Movies he enjoyed were Noir, westerns, war, action and comedies favorites Kellys Heros, The Dirty Dozen, The Blues Brothers, Dragnet and Oh Brother where art thou. He loved all kinds and eras of music especially rock and roll, comedies, parodies. Some favorite songs Karma Chameleon, Man of Constant Sorrow, Sink The Bismarck, Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald, Jailhouse Rock (BB Version), Another One Bites the Dust, Sitting on the Dock of the Bay, Bad Moon Rising, Werewolves of London, and Lets Go Crazy.

He will be greatly missed.

A memorial gathering for Gary will be held on June 29, 2024 from 1:00 to 5:00pm at 8100 Stevens Ave S, Bloomington, MN, 55420.