Rudolph R Wegert ("Rudy" and affectionately known to his siblings and close family as "Buddy"), passed away peacefully in his sleep and into the loving arms of his Savior our Lord Jesus Christ on Monday, May 19, 2025.

Rudy was born to Rudolph Wilhelm Frederick Wegert and Agnes (Kujawa) Wegert on the "ole Spence Place" Off Hwy Z, on Thursday, July 24, 1930 in Quincy, Adams, Wisconsin; right along the Wisconsin River.

He was the second oldest of eight children and was instilled with a strong work ethic while growing up and working on the farm during Depression Years near Quincy Bluff in Adams County.

Early on while still a child, during World War II, he began dreaming about Embassy Duty in some far off land, and was finally able to enlist as a Marine August 6, 1948. After boot training, he was assigned to Camp Pendleton where training was interesting as a "grunt" rifle team leader, in B Company, 6th Marines, 1st Mar Div FMF. In addition to field training in the "boondocks" he took part in rubber boat "raider" amphib training going ashore through the rough/high surf. First, at San Onofre Beach just north of Oceanside, then later in March '49 the location of amphib training changed. While abord the submarine Perch with 80+/- Marines, 5 miles south of Point Loma, while cruising submerged, the sub collided with the destroyer Orleck. Much damage, no casualties but it did end that amphib training. Rubber boat and amtrack beach surf landings continued back north of Oceanside later taking part in the movie Sands of Iwo Jima well into June 1949. That was very interesting and he was able to get a picture with each, John Wayne, Forrest Tucker and John Agar, but not the lead lady Adal Mara. Later in 1949, his duties included dropping supplies from the air. His job while airborne was to help push the cargo out the door and when for some unknown reason his safety straps get tangled in the cargo harness all while nearing the drop zone when everybody's heart rate increases. At the very last moment they were untangled, something he has never forgotten!

In early 1950 he applied for overseas duty or Embassy duty. About three weeks before 25 June, the Korean War start date, he received orders for duty at HQ Fleet Marine Forces, Pacific at Pearl Harbor. Certainly working with the G-2 Section was better in Hawaii than going to Korea with the 1st Marine Division, and perhaps also better than Embassy duty. He later tried for that again but never got it. But what he did find and receive would be far greater than Embassy duty and the most eternally fulfilling treasure of all: While stationed at Pearl Harbor, an unknown missionary (whether it be another fellow Marine or possibly Pastor James H Ware himself) invited Marine CPL R. R. Wegert to attend the Sunday 27 May 1951 morning service at the Nuuanu Baptist Church in Honolulu. Pastor Ware preached from John 3 "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God;' and during the invitation, Rudy along with three other fellow Marines, went forward to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and were baptized that very day during the service. He became very active in the services of Nuuanu Baptist church, and even felt at one time that he was strongly thinking about going into the Christian Ministry.

In 1952, after being promoted to SSGT, he was reassigned to Marine Barracks, Great Lakes, IL, where he soon requested reassignment back to the 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) Fleet Marine Force, in Korea. Reason: "Believe I can be of better service to the Marine Corps with combat duty experience." Request was denied whereupon he continued to supervise major events in Chicago with a special marine Color Guard.

In February 1954, he was reassigned and reported for further training and duty to Marine Corps Base, Camp Le Jeune, NC, at Montford Point. During this time, in March 1955, his father suffered a heart attack and Wegert went home to St. Mary's Ringling Hospital in Baraboo, WI, where only 11 days later his father died, bringing Wegert back again on emergency leave for the funeral. This led to a request for reassignment to the WI or Northern IL area for Marine Corps Activity and was granted reassignment to Madison, WI, where he received orders for duty at the I-I Staff, 4th Automatic Weapons Battery, Madison, WI, with final security clearance for access to SECRET information under Major J.W. Biehl UWMCR, the Inspector-Instructor, 4th AW Btry USMCR. It was this final move that positioned him to be at a Sept 1955 Event/Dance at Turner Hall uptown off the Madison, WI, Square where he met Alice L White, who, on February 4, 1956 would become his wife of going on 70 years. They were married at Congregational Church, Adams, WI. Later that year, after submitting an application and being highly recommended by his Commander for appointment to permanent officer status, 2nd Lt USMC, the application was not approved by the Commandant of the Marine Corps because "Wegert did not meet the established physical standards—he had developed defective visual acuity, each eye 20/30 was not correctable to 20/20." This decision, along with the birth of their first child, Shelia Marie, became instrumental a year later upon receiving his 3rd Award of Good Conduct Medal and an Honorable discharge from the USMC after completing 9-years service, whereupon he chose to reenlist in the USMCR, 4th AWBtry USMCR, Madison, WI, and began an additional career as a Civilian employed with Central Life Assurance Co.

In 1958 he was promoted to Technical Sergeant E-6, USMCR and was re-designated the 4th 105mmHowitzer Battery, USMCR just months later after the birth of their second child, Rudolph Alan, and a couple years later, their third child Lynn Suzanne, in 1961.

In Nov 1962 he was elected Commandant, Four Lakes Detachment of Marine Corps League and was appointed by the State Commandant as the MCL Rep for the Wisconsin Veterans Council; and became a Life Member of Disabled American Veterans.

Upon completion of 6 years—Sept 4, 1963 Wegert was discharged from USMCR and Sept 5 enlisted in the USAR with 826 Ordnance Co (Ammo) Madison as Administrative Supply Technician and was promoted to SFCE7 May 24, 1965.

The 60's were troubling and transformative years in Madison, especially for a young family and mother with her 4th child on the way, soon to be born in April 1967. For in less than one year just after the Tet Offensive, Wegert received orders to Active Duty with his unit the 826th Ord Co (Ammo) to depart enroute to Bein Hoa Air Base (near Saigon) in South Viet Nam where for 18 months he performed meritorious service in connection with military operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Viet Nam while serving as a Platoon Sergeant directing operations for receipt, storage, maintenance and issue of various military munitions to using units and also serving the Higher Headquarters as Battalion Operations Sergeant.

Upon completion of his tour he received Honorable Separation from Active Duty and assigned to USAR having received for his service the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Star Medal; whereupon he was assigned to 826th Ord Co, Madison and within a year was promoted and appoint to Warrant Officer 1. He would later receive a numerous number of other awards, commendations, promotions and medals and retired after 42 years of military duty as Chief Warrant Officer 4 with 7,345 participation points. (This, at the time, was the highest rank for non-commissioned officers. They did not have a CW5 yet.)

And yet, despite this unimaginably hectic busy military career he stood by his wife and four kids and loved them the very best he knew how. On his 70th birthday celebration he presented his loving and devoted wife with his Bronze Medal telling everyone that "she was the one that endured and patiently overcame through those 42 years as a military wife and mother." A couple years ago as he was beginning his path of dementia, he asked one of his kids, "Was I a good father?" Where upon came the reply, "Dad you were the very best Dad anyone could have! And we are all so very grateful and proud of you!"

In reality the man that our Father was prevails endlessly beyond this very brief history of his military life. From his intense love and devotion to each of his siblings: Marilyn, Betty, Bill, Francie, Delores, Yvonne and Sandra—all raised during Depression Years with a bond of love beyond words; to the hundreds of "home projects" and "building projects", gardening, wood cutting, boulder rip-rap projects for neighbors; to all of the volunteer work he's done for Veteran's through the years—especially getting them signed up to the VA for Medical Care; to his love for the outdoors—boating, fishing, snowmobiling, hunting. He was loved and respected by all who knew him and will be missed dearly. He truly lived a wonderful life.

Rudy is survived by his wife of 69 years Alice (White) Wegert, currently residing at Our House Memory Care, Wisconsin Dells; four children: Shelia (Jerry) Kratowicz, Rudy (Lori) Wegert, Lynn Bakken, Jay (Trish) Wegert; 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren and one great, great granddaughter. He is further survived by his siblings Bill (Betty) Wegert, Francie Zimbric, and Sandra Larkin. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, Yvonne Wegert, Delores Radl, Marilyn Schanel and Betty Rogers, son-in-law Jerry Bakken, grandsons Christian Kratowicz and Travis Kutz and Dax Bakken.

We welcome all to attend both the graveside ceremony with full military honors at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, located at 21731 Spring St, Union Grove, WI, on Tuesday, June 3rd, at 11:00am; and a Celebration of Life on Sunday, June 8th, from Noon-4:00pm at the VFW in Portage WI, 215 W Collins Street.