Rudy Dingman

Rudy Dingman, Oakesdale resident, passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at his home following a year long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 75.

He was born February 18, 1945, in Denver, Colo., to Theodore and Vonceile Eoff Dingman. He grew up in the mountains west of Denver where there was always plenty of snow. They enjoyed skiing, snow shoeing and hiking. Rudy loved the outdoors. He graduated from the Idaho Springs High School in Idaho Springs, Colo., and attended one year of college at Southwest Missouri State and two years at Red Rocks Community College in Denver. As a young man Rudy was very proud to donate his blood three times per year.

In 1965, Rudy joined the United States Navy and was assigned to a patrol squadron. As an air crewman and flight engineer, he flew into Vietnam and just about everywhere else in the Far East. He often said his Navy experience turned out to be one of the best experiences of his life. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Rudy married his sweetheart and had two great kids. These were the other great experiences of his life!

Rudy married Karen Shrader of Idaho Springs, Colo., on April 10, 1975. They made their home in the Denver area where Rudy had a long career (1970-2000) with the United States Postal Service. He was the shop foreman in the Denver Vehicle Maintenance facility. Over the years he had organized several truck rodeos for the postal service. Later he transferred to Claims & Accident Investigation and was assigned as the lead accident investigator for the Colorado and Wyoming region.

In addition to his exemplary service in the military, Rudy received numerous awards and citations during his career in the postal service. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Patrol Squadron Four military organization. He worked for the City of Englewood, Colo., from 2001, until retiring in 2012. Rudy loved baseball, yard work, working on cars, traveling, but most of all, he enjoyed watching his grandkids at their games and functions. He and Karen moved to Oakesdale in 2016 to be closer to family.

He is survived by his wife and best friend, Karen, at their home; two children, Jacob (Sonia) Dingman and Sara (Marcio) Correia; his grandchildren, Tanner, Madison, Garrett, Emily, Tyler, and Sam Dingman, Nandee, Isaiah, Niah, Addae, and Micah Correia; the Shrader family, whom he loved dearly; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Theodore. The family suggests memorial gifts in Rudy's memory be made to the Kindred Hospice of Pullman and/or American Cancer Society. On-line guest book is at http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com

Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is caring for the family.