Theodore Henry Rudnick

Theodore H. Rudnick, 89, of Grand Island died Monday, June 9, 2014 at the Nebraska Veterans Home in Grand Island.



Services will be at 1:00 pm on Monday, June 16, 2014 at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island with Rev. Bev Lanzendorf officiating. Burial will be at the Westlawn Cemetery in Grand Island. Visitation will be from 4-6 P.M. Sunday at Apfel Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Nebraska Veterans Home in Grand Island. Apfel Funeral Home is caring for the family.



Ted was born on May 19, 1925 at Tilden, Nebraska, the son of William and Remine (Budde) Rudnick. Teds family moved from Tilden to Brown County in 1933 and lived at a Ranch on Bone Creek. He attended country school in Brown County.



Ted enlisted in the United States Navy on August 21, 1943 and was honorably discharge April 18, 1946 serving during World War II, attaining the rank as a Ships Cook Third Class. Ted was on the naval ships USS Trathen, USS Caps, USS Motive, USS Control and the USS Lovelace. During the war, he traveled the Asiatic-Pacific Area receiving seven Battle Stars, the American Area, the Philippine-Liberation where he was awarded the Victory Medal along with the two Battle Stars.



Ted was united in marriage to Wilma E. Huggins on August 25, 1945 at Seattle, WA. The couple lived in San Francisco until Ted was honorably discharged from the Navy on April 18, 1946. They moved to Wyoming for 5 years where Ted worked in the oil fields. They moved back to Ainsworth where Ted worked as a carpenter. He built homes in Ainsworth, Bassett, Grand Island, Hastings and St. Libory, taking special pride in cabinet making. The family moved to Grand Island in 1976. Wilma died on June 12, 2007.



Ted was a lifetime member and Past President of the VFW. He enjoyed bowling, fishing, hunting, square dancing, reading western books and Lawrence Welk music.



Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Kathryn and Stanley Schmidt of St. Libory; son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Jacqueline Rudnick of Grand Island. Other survivors include his grandchildren, Lawrence and wife Julie Schmidt, Jeffrey and wife Karen Schmidt, Alan Schmidt, Joey and wife Susanne Schmidt, Jamie and husband Corey Ivy, and Jennifer Rudnick; great-grandchildren Justin Schmidt, Kordeal Schmidt, Mercedes Schmidt, Trevor Schmidt, Jason Schmidt, Joshua Schmidt and Hannah Ivy; step great-grandchildren, Lane Hamik, Kendra Hamik and Cody Hamik, and brother Henry and wife Joan Rudnick of Long Pine, NE.



Ted was prededed in death by his parents, his wife Wilma, brother Bruno, sister Mildred, and great-granddaughter Madison Lynn Schmidt-Johnson.



Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.apfelfuneralhome.com.