Paul E. “Gene” Rude, Jr., 84, of Galesburg, Illinois, died at 5:45 a.m. Monday, May 1, 2023 at Hawthorne Inn, Galesburg.
Gene was born July 14, 1938 at home in Gerlaw, Illinois the son of Paul Eugene and Nellie Evangeline (Wallingford) Rude, Sr. After graduating from Mt. Union High School in Iowa, Gene entered the US Air Force in June 1956 and was honorably discharged in August 1964. Gene went on to a 30 year career with the Illinois State Police retiring on January 31, 1993. Gene married the mother of his children, Gwendolyn L. Mather on June 24, 1962.
Gene is survived by two daughters, Cara (Todd) Frakes of Galesburg and Dana Schneider of Peoria, Illinois; four grandchildren, Michael (Alexis) Frakes of Galesburg, Nikki (Josh) Chase of Peru, Illinois, Victoria (Corbin) Meador of Oneida, Illinois, and Joseph (Amber Schoolman) Hathaway of Monmouth, Illinois and Justin (Sarah) Frakes and Aaron (Ashley) Frakes, of Indiana, whom Gene thought of as grandsons; and seventeen great grandchildren, Mia and Harrison Chase, Tristin, Gavin, Sophia, and Ava Frakes, Hudson, Chloe, and Lainey Meador, Emma Hathaway, Carter Hamilton, and Wayne, Ronne, Elsie, Wyatt, Ryder and Silas Frakes. Gene is also survived by two brothers, Charles Rude of Palmetto, Florida and Donald Rude, Fairfield, Iowa; three sisters, Shirley Doughton of Yucaipa, California, Ann Wallingford of Brandon, Florida, and Wilma (Tony) Breuer of Wylie, Texas; and several nieces and nephews. Gene was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, John, Tom, and Ken.
After Gene retired from ISP, he worked for two years for the Knox County Sheriff’s Department and was later elected to the Galesburg City Council, serving two terms. While serving in the Air Force Gene was assigned to Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD; then to Morocco; later to Mitchel Field, Long Island, and finally to Anacostia Naval Station, Washington, DC, with the Armed Forces Police. He served at the Kennedy funeral, during the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream Speech,” and as part of the funeral escort for Gen. Douglas MacArthur. During retirement Gene wrote a book called “My Life’s Highway,” which was a look back on his years as a state trooper.
Gene was a longtime active member of Grace Anglican Church where he served as deacon and lay reader as well as a vestry. He enjoyed mentoring children and served for several years on the Galesburg youth Commission. Gene was a fan of all Chicago sports teams, especially the Cubs and the Bears. Having grown up in Iowa, Gene was a die-hard Iowa Hawkeyes fan.
Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 5, 2023 at Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 p.m. Father Shawn Doubet will officiate. Burial with military rites by the Knox County Honor Guard will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Galesburg. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to American Diabetes Association. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.
