Rudy S. Hans was born on July 9, 1922 and died on Thursday, February 25, 2021. During World War II, Rudy served with the Army Air Corps in England, repairing B-17 bombers for the Allied forces. Once the fighting ended, he was part of the Allied cleanup operations in France. After the war, he took a job with Zenith Radio Corporation, became an industrial engineer, and devoted his life’s work to Zenith’s plants in Chicago, setting up assembly lines as new models appeared, moving up to larger troubleshooting duties as the years went by. For a good number of years after the war, in addition to his regular work at Zenith, he built houses in Des Plaines and Park Ridge, including his own first home, with his father, a carpenter.
He was married for 55 years to the love of his life, Marian, who preceded him in death, as did his parents, Otto and Hermine, and his eldest son Douglas. He is survived by his sons James (Hilma) and Dale (Peggy), granddaughter Heather Anne, and daughter-in-law Nancy Hans.
Throughout his life, Rudy enjoyed bowling, golf, and especially travel. He was proud of the fact that he and Marian had visited all 50 states, especially their trip to Alaska and Point Barrow in 1972, at a time when one had to create one’s own itinerary and take small ships and planes. They also rode the donkeys down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon at a time when few did and drove down the entire west coast on Highway 1 from Vancouver to the Mexican border.
There will be a visitation at 10 AM on Saturday March 6, at Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner Street in Des Plaines, until time of the funeral service at 11:00 am. Interment will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Arlington Heights.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 855 Lee St., Des Plaines, IL 60016.
Oehler Funeral Home will be observing the current CDC and Cook County Covid-19 restrictions of 50 people in attendance for a gathering. All attendees are required to wear a mask and observe social distancing policies.
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