Rudy John Koshar

Rudy J. Koshar, 96, of St. Joseph, entered into eternal life on January 30, 2018. A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held on Sunday, February 3, 2018 from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM at Starks and Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Hospice. Those wishing to sign Rudy’s guestbook, or leave a message of condolence for the family may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com. Rudy was born on March 25, 1921 in Chicago, IL to Anton & Veronica (Krampac) Koshar. The family moved to Watervliet when Rudy was nine. After graduation from Watervliet High School in 1939, Rudy was employed by the Watervliet Paper Mill before going into the U.S. 3rd Army from 1942 to 1945. Rudy served in the European Theater in the 87th Engineers under General Patton. His platoon helped build the bridge across the Rhine River, which was instrumental in winning the war. After Rudy’s honorable discharge from the army in 1945, he went into business with two brothers, Tony and Louis, at White Fire Gas Station in Benton Harbor. Later, Rudy started a Sunoco station and auto sales business on the corner of Fair and Britain Avenues in Benton Harbor, and in 1969 he moved to Hilltop and Washington in St. Joseph, where he made the “Rudy-Type Car” famous at his Union 76 station. Rudy retired in 1999. He loved cars, his horses, Sugar and Dawn, and his dog, Heidi. He also loved working in his yard. Rudy is survived by his wife of 42 years, Dorothy (Zoleand); children, Judy (Rudy) Kruger of Ellijay, GA; Rudy (Judith) Jr. Koshar of Madison WI; and Russel (Snezana) Koshar, of Kalamazoo; grandchildren, Trevor (Val) Kruger, Traci (Jim) Richards, Kevin (Mirabella) Kruger, Drew (Shannon) Koshar, Annelise (Donald) Koshar, Sydnee Koshar and Hannah Koshar; great-grandchildren, Hunter Kruger, Sofia Kruger, and Freya Koshar; brother Robert (Theda) Koshar, of Watervliet, sisters, Rose Scheid of Watervliet and Mary Lou O’Connor of Dayton, OH. He is preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Helen Koshar; and brothers Tony and Louis Koshar.