Laconia-John Anthony Rudzinski, 77, of 78 Marshall Court died Friday evening, October 6th, 2006 at his home surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer.
John was the youngest of four children born to the late William and Ludovicki (Wingras) Rudzinski. He was born in Laconia April 19, 1929 and had been a lifelong resident.
John was the President of Laconia Ice, Company, and Rudzinski Transportation. The ice company was originally started in 1913 by his father, who built the original icehouse on the shore of Paugus Bay. John moved the business to its current location on Blaisdell Avenue in the late 1980’s.
John was a graduate of Laconia High School Class of 1947, and in December of 1951 entered the United States Army. He served as a member of Company B with the 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion of the 2nd Infantry division in Korea, which participated in two of the conflict’s most historic battles at “Heartbreak Ridge”, and “Old Baldy”. He was honorably discharged from the Army with the rank of Corporal, and was awarded the Korean Service Ribbon with two Campaign Stars and the U.N. Service Ribbon. He was a life member of the Laconia Lodge of Elks, BPOE 876, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of the Northeastern Ice Association, the International Packaged Ice Association, and a communicant of Our Lady of the Lakes Church in Lakeport.
John is predeceased by a sister Sophie Roubo, and brother Alexander Rudzinski.
John is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lorraine (Breton) Rudzinski of Laconia; his five children, Linda Terwilliger and her husband Paul of Grantham, NH, Donna Royal and her husband Jim of Gilford, NH, Paul Rudzinski of Lakeport, NH, Tom Rudzinski and his wife Karen of Laconia, and Ann Marie Tardif and her husband Alan of Gilford, NH; one brother, William Rudzinski, Jr. of Lakeport, NH; five grandchildren, Jason Royal, Cohen Cartier, Derek, Drew, and Jonathan Rudzinski; and one great-grandchild, Mason Cartier.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Wednesday, October 11th, 2006 at Our Lady of the Lakes Church, 50 Washington Street, Laconia (Lakeport) at 10:00 a.m. Rev. George J. Soberick, pastor of the church celebrated the mass. Burial with Military Honors followed in the family lot at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Garfield Street, Laconia. Visiting hours were Tuesday October 10th, 2006 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Simoneau-Paquette Memorial Home, 139 Church Street, Laconia. Family and friends were invited to attend.
For those who wish, the family suggests expressions of sympathy in John’s name may be made to the Community Health & Hospice, Inc., 780 North Main Street, Laconia, NH 03246, visit www.chhnh.org or to Our Lady of the Lakes Church, 50 Washington, Street, Laconia, NH 03246.