Rudolph B "Rudy" Willems
1940 - 2020
Rudolph B. ""Rudy""
Willems, 79, died Saturday (August 29, 2020) at the Harry Hynes
Hospice Center of St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita, KS.
He was born on September 12, 1940 in
Windom, Kansas, the son of Jacob T. and Kathryn Buller Willems. Rudy
was raised on a farm near Zimmerdale, Kansas and moved with the
family into Newton in 1959. He graduated from Newton High School.
Rudy married Beverly Ann Brainard on
March 11, 1966 in Newton. They were longtime members of the Church of
the Nazarene in Newton.
He went to work at the Santa Fe Rail
Mill in May, 1977 where he worked until retiring in 1990. During
these years he also owned and operated Rudy's Welding and Machine
Shop in Newton, after retiring from the railroad, Rudy worked full
time at the shop. Through the years Rudy enjoyed car racing and was
the driver of John Wiebe's dragster for several years.
Survivors include his wife Beverly of
the home in Newton; children William Dean Willems as well as Alan
Janzen and his wife Gale of Hutchinson, Ks., Ruth Love of Canton,
Ks., and Carol Sauerwein and her husband James of Newton; sister
Helen Zielke and her husband Darrell of Seattle, Washington; 20
grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren; and one-great-great
grandchild.
Rudy is preceded in death by his
parents and brother Richard.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00
A.M., Tuesday (September 8th) at the Church of the Nazarene in
Newton. Private inurnment will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.
The family will receive friends at the
church on Labor Day, Monday (September 7th) between 4:00 P.M. and
6:00 P.M.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been
established with the Church of the Nazarene and Harry Hynes Memorial
Hospice.
Contributions may be sent to Broadway
Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, Ks. 67114.
Condolences may be left at
www.broadwaycolonialfh.com
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial
Funeral Home, Newton.
