Jim Kudrle

NOTICE: Rock Rapids, Iowa Jim Kudrle, age 91 of Rock Rapids, IA died Monday, July 8, 2013 at Royal C. Johnson Veterans Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, July 11th at Holy Name Catholic Church in Rock Rapids, IA, with Fr. Douglas Klein and Deacon Jeff Gallagher officiating. Burial will follow at Holy Name Catholic Cemetery in Rock Rapids. Family will be receiving friends from 1:00 p.m. to the time of service at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2013 at Holy Name Catholic Church. Frederick James Jim Kudrle was born on April 9, 1922 to Fred and Lillian (Huber) Kudrle in Rock Rapids, IA. As a youth, he attended Rock Rapids High, graduating in 1940. While in high school, Jim excelled at both basketball and baseball, participating in many thrilling victories. After graduation, he attended USD in Vermillion, SD. In college, Jim was enrolled in Officer Training School and was a member of ATO fraternity. He was a member of the Pershing Rifles and the Silent Drill Team. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Dec. 1941, Jims college days ended as he was selected as a Drill instructor in the US Army, serving at two training camps. He then became a member of Pattons Third Army; landing at LaHarve, France. Jim served under General George S. Patton as a combat infantryman for the full duration of the war. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge and also the liberation of several infamous concentration camps. Jims military service was marked with combat injuries which resulted in the awarding of a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, and a Presidential Citation as well as many other campaign medals. As a WWII soldier, Jim endured many hardships due to the fighting conditions. After the war ended, Jim returned to Rock Rapids and married Wilhelmina Brower in 1948. Together they owned and operated multiple businesses, including a caf, two motels, and a Mobil service station. Jim, along with Hugo Ross and Bob Bendinger purchased a building and created a new home for the Rock Rapids VFW in the building where it still stands. Jim and Willy lived their entire married life in Rock Rapids, raising two children, Bob and Rita. After selling the businesses in 1968, Jim went on to work part time as a custodian for Central Lyon school system. Some of Jims hobbies included hunting and fishing in the surrounding and remote areas, making several trips to Canada. He was a Lifetime member of the NRA, and Honorary Lifetime member of the Rock Rapids Gun Club, and a lifelong member of the Rock Rapids American Legion. Jims journey ended on July 8, 2013 as he passed away at the Royal C. Johnson Veterans Hospital in Sioux Falls, surrounded by his family. He is survived by a son, Robert (Mariannette) Kudrle of Sioux Falls, SD; and daughter, Rita Kudrle of Sioux Falls, SD; 4 grandchildren, Jessica (Timothy) Cook of Harrisburg, SD, and Ashley (Seth) Artz of Harrisburg, SD, Brooke Ponto of Sioux Falls, SD and Andy Ponto of Southern Pines, NC; and 4 great-grandchildren. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Wilhelmina.