RUDY HUMMEL

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RUDY HUMMEL
A Life of Love Lived

It is with great sadness, that we announce the passing of "Rudy" Hummel (Rudolf
Henry) on January 12, 2021.
Born in Winnipeg to Mathilda and Otto Hummel of Little Britain, Manitoba, Rudy and his brothers, Hubert and Otto, grew up on the family dairy farm in Little Britain. Rudy always said he was a farm boy and
throughout his life enjoyed driving around Saskatchewan formulating his "Farm
Reports".
At 13, Rudy bought his first guitar. For the rest of his life, he quietly learned music and played guitar. He practiced daily and never performed. Over his years in Saskatoon, Rudy took guitar lessons from many. He was taking guitar lessons well into his eighties. Rudy's musical tastes reflected his love of the guitar; old-time music, country, Blues, Gypsy Jazz and old school 50 rock and roll.
From a young age, Rudy was interested in how things worked. During his early
education, Rudy took a part alarm clocks, made radios and learned how to fix all things electrical. He attended Lockport School later graduating from St. Paul's High School. Rudy earned his B.Sc. in Engineering (1956) and
later his M.Sc. in Engineering (1970) and
finally won his Ph.D. in Engineering in (1975) from the University of Manitoba.
Rudy's pioneering career in high
technology began in the late fifties when he worked on the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line, a line of radar bases above the Arctic Circle that were key to North American
continental defense during the heydays of the cold war. In the sixties he worked for Nuclear Enterprises of Winnipeg on the research and development of nuclear instruments.
In the late 1970s, after graduate school, Rudy was hired by General Electric and
commenced the installation and maintenance of CT scanners in rural and urban
Saskatchewan. In 1979 he then went to work for the Saskatchewan Cancer Clinic and
Nuclear Medicine at Royal University
Hospital.
A life long love story. At age 15, Rudy met his future wife Betty (nee Elizabeth Moffat) one year his junior, when they both attended a "Box Lunch Social" at St. Paul's High School. They often reminisced fondly of this event, recanting the tale over the years. In 1961 they married and soon had Elizabeth and John. A loving father, Rudy was proud of their accomplishments, and having grand-children was a source of great joy. Rudy and Betty loved being together and over the course of their 55 year marriage. They
enjoyed travelling, dancing, gardening,
anything really, as long as they were
ogether.
As long time parishioners of St. Mary's
Roman Catholic Church, Rudy and Betty loved their church community and actively participated in the life of the church. Rudy was a Knight of Columbus (5104), having
enjoyed many years volunteering at the K of C Bingo hall selling Nevada tickets and
visiting with friends.
Rudy was predeceased by his parents, Mathilda and Otto Hummel, his brother Otto and his beloved wife Betty.
Left to mourn his loss are his daughter
Elizabeth (Patrick) and son John (Sharon). His grandchildren, Sam and James. And his brother Hubert (Regina). As well as many nieces and nephews and their children.
Rudy's instruments, music and accessories are being donated to the Community Arts Mentorship Program, which seeks to develop musical resources in small communities in Northern Saskatchewan. It is our hope that this will honour Rudy's love of music and
Canada's north.
In lieu of flowers, the family request
donations to this important program
(Community Arts Mentorship Program, 619 2nd Ave NE, Swift Current, SK S9H 2E7).
Together again and until the end. Rudy and Betty will be interred in St. Margaret's
Cemetery in Little Britain, when it is safe to gather.

Arrangements in care of David Schurr Mourning Glory Funeral Services
(306) 978-5200 www.mourningglory.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 23, 2021