Rudy J. Korach Jr.

Rudy J. Korach, age 97, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away peacefully on April 24, 2012, at Bickford of Overland Park Assisted Living. Friends may call on Friday, April 27, 2012, from 5-7 pm at the McGilley & Hoge Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday, April 28, 2012 at Cure of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Road, Leawood, Kansas 66206. Interment will be held in Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to CareAlternatives Hospice , 5701 State Avenue, Suite 100, Kansas City, KS, 66102 or 1420 NW Vivion Road, # 101, Kansas City, MO, 64118.

Rudy was born March 20, 1915 in Girard, Kansas to the late Rudy and Julia Korach, immigrants from Slovenia. Rudy grew up in southeast Kansas and as a young man played baseball as a pitcher for the New York Yankees Minor League organization in Arkansas. He moved to the Kansas City area in 1936 where he met and married Wilma Pirnat in 1939. Rudy served in the Army Air Force during WWII and later worked for nearly 30 years at Pacific Mutual Door Co. from which he retired. Rudy loved the outdoors and sports. He was an avid fisherman, a top-flight bowler, and life-long gardener. But most of all Rudy loved baseball. He played, coached and watched baseball his whole life. Baseball will miss its biggest fan.

He was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-four years, Wilma, his parents, Rudy and Julia Korach, his siblings, Anne, Joe and John, his son-in-law James Stewart, and a grandchild, Christopher Korach.

Rudy leaves his children: daughter Judy Stewart of Williamsburg, VA; son Gerald Korach and his wife Connie of Troy, MI; and daughter Margaret Harris and her husband Mark of Kingwood, TX; as well as grandchildren, Julie, Jodi, Jason, Kevin, Richard, Marissa, and Michael, nine great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. Please offer condolences at www.mcgilleyhoge.com.