John E. Rude, 63, of Eau Claire died on Wednesday, March 7, 2007, at Luther Hospital\r\nHe was born in Eau Claire on March 12, 1943, the son of Gertrude (Beals) and George Rude.\r\nJohn attended Lowes Creek School and graduated from Memorial High School in 1961.\r\nHe married Shirley A. Mittelstadt on October 24, 1970 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Stillwater, MN.\r\nJohn entered U.S. Army on October 13, 1961, serving in Germany, until his honorable discharge on September 29, 1964.\r\nJohn started his career as an electrician in 1965 with Local 953 and later a member of Local 14. He worked as a maintenance electrician at Uniroyal Tire Company and was a member of Local 19 rubber workers. He served as union steward, a member of the local negotiating committee, exam committee, labor management committee, and was a member of the local executive board for many years. John was also a member of the Eau Claire Area Labor Council.\r\nJohn was a member of Epiphany Lutheran Church. He loved fishing, hunting, traveling, and playing pool.\r\nJohn is survived by his wife, Shirley; a daughter, Lissa (Chad) Dachel of Fall Creek; a sister, Carole Johnson of Eau Claire; four aunts, Leona Whinnery of Eau Claire, Lois Waldoch of St. Paul, MN, Hazel Noelk of Cleveland, TN, and Dorothy Easterson of Des Moines, WA; also by several nieces and nephews.\r\nHe was preceded in death by his parents.\r\nFuneral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 10, 2007, at Epiphany Lutheran Church with Pastor Russell Kampfer officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery, in Eau Claire. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services Saturday at the church. Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral and Cremation Services is serving his family.\r\n

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