Gary Lee Rudolf was born on April 11, 1943 in Central City, Nebraska the son of Albert P. and Esther A. (Zlomke) Rudolf.  He graduated from Palmer High School in Palmer, Nebraska in 1961 and attended Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska.

On June 27, 1965 he was united in marriage to Sandra Lea Smith.  To this union two children were born, a son, Brad and daughter Traci.

Gary began working for Chief Industries in 1968 in Grand Island, Nebraska and transferred with the company to Fort Dodge, Iowa in 1969.   He then began working for Modern Farm Systems (MFS) starting in 1972 at Webster City, Iowa and eventually relocated to St. Marys, Iowa in 1977, working as a territory sales representative.  He retired from MFS/Hutcheson Mayrath/Global Industries in 2014 at the age of 70.

Gary also served in the Army National Guard in Nebraska and Iowa.

Gary had a passion for raising and riding horses his entire life.  As a young boy, he enjoyed switching out the work horse teams at mid-day with his father or uncle Amel.  Later in life he participated in rodeo calf roping events, qualifying for the IRCA finals several years.  He also enjoyed following the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Iowa State Cyclones.  He played baseball in his youth, but his greatest joy was attending his kids' and grandkids' activities.  Gary and Sandy enjoyed traveling domestically and abroad.  In August 2025, Gary and Sandy traveled to the Teton National Park in Wyoming with their children and grandchildren to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.  It was a very special celebration.

Gary was a member of the St. Marys American Legion Post # 716, the Iowa Rodeo Cowboys Association, United States Calf Ropers Association, Iowa Rodeo Association and the American Quarter Horse Association.

Gary is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sandra Rudolf; son, Brad (Penny) Rudolf of St. Marys, IA; daughter Traci Rudolf (Phil) Hanrahan of St. Marys, IA; four grandchildren, Cassandra Rudolf of Norwalk, IA, Ali (Anthony) Graham of Norwalk, IA, Brodey Hanrahan of St. Marys, IA and Grace Hanrahan of St. Marys, IA.; two great grandsons – Hudson and Hayden Graham; sisters-in-law Lavonne Rudolf and Loretta Rudolf; brothers-in-law Tom Williams and Gary (Kristy) Smith and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Albert and Esther Rudolf; infant sister Shirley Rudolf; sister Aileen (Jack) Rawlings; brothers Ralph Rudolf and Wayne Rudolf; parents-in-law Eldon and Lola Smith; and sister-in-law Shirley Williams.

Gary passed away on Monday, January 5, 2026 in Des Moines Iowa at the age of 82.  The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, January 8, 2026 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola, Iowa.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, January 12, 2026 at the Zion United Methodist Church in Archer, Nebraska under the care of Peters Funeral Home.  The family will greet friends prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.  Burial will follow services in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Palmer, Nebraska.

Memorials for Gary may be directed to the family for a memorial to be decided at a later date.