Rudolph Joseph Stretesky died peacefully in his sleep on June 30, 2009, in Mercy Villa Nursing Facility, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of 85. He was born on the 4th of July, 1923, in St. Louis, Missouri, and was raised in Bonne Terre, Missouri. He was the only child of Joseph Rudolph and Anna Stretesky. Rudy (as he was known to all) graduated from Bonne Terre High School, after which he enlisted and served his country in the United States Air Force during World War II. It was shortly after that he met his future wife, Gustine Tinder. Rudy and Gussie were united in marriage in 1946, and remained together until Gussie's passing in 1999. Rudy spent his entire adult life working in the financial services industry. Starting as a bank teller at Bonne Terre Bank, he later moved his family to Springfield to work in Securities and Investments. In 1974, Rudy and family moved to Potosi, Mo., where he served as president of Mercantile Bank of Potosi for over 10 years. In 1985, Rudy and Gussie moved back to Springfield, where Rudy would continue his financial career. People were always drawn to Rudy's outgoing personality and his contagious smile. He helped so many people during his life that there are too many to count. Just thinking of him brings a smile to your face. One of his great passions in life was music. Rudy played trumpet and was lead singer in the Ken Peterson Trio during his earlier years. Later in life he traveled with his trumpet to play at numerous events. Rudy worked magic with his trumpet! Even when it was used to get you out of bed at 6 a.m. or blast a "CHARGE!" at his son's high school basketball games. Rudy was a parishioner of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Springfield, where he was president of the Men's Club for six years, and a Fourth Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also actively involved in the Rotary Club for many years, once boasting of a string of over 25 years where he never missed a weekly meeting! A very special place was also held in Rudy's heart for the nuns at the Carmelite Monastery in Springfield, where he supported the Order's endeavors whenever and wherever possible. On December 20, 2002, Rudy was joined in marriage to Mary Hopper and they spent seven wonderful years together dancing, traveling, volunteering and spending time with their family. Rudy is survived by his loving wife, Mary; Rudy's children, Joan (Scott) Swartz of Denver, Colo., Janis (Mike) Gideon of Springfield, Mo., Joe (Robin) Stretesky of Los Angeles, Calif., Jill (Mark) Claywell of Bonne Terre, Mo., and Jaye (Kevin) Kerr of Dillon, Colo.; 13 grandchildren, Jennifer Palazola, Mack and Blair Swartz, Brad (Amanda), Zach and Ty Gideon, Cory and Cameron Claywell, Kellie, Katie and Jonathan Stretesky, and Olivia and Karston Kerr; and Mary's loving children, Bill Hopper, Pat Hopper and Peggy Jinks of Springfield, Mo. Rudy was preceded in death by a grandson, Kyle Swartz. Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 7, at 7 p.m., in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, in Springfield. Funeral mass services will be held July 8, at 10 a.m., in Immaculate Conception Church, in Springfield. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.