Rudolph “Rudy” Fahrenkamp, 92, of Jordan, passed away on March 19, 2024. His Christian Funeral will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jordan (100 Sixth St West) on Saturday, March 23 at 11am. There will be a time of Visitation prior from 9:30-10:45 AM. Following the Christian Funeral, Rudy will be laid to rest at Spirit Hill Cemetery with Military Honors. Pastor Jeremy Glowicki will be presiding over the services.
On October 21, 1931, Rudolph and Emilie Fahrenkamp expanded their family with the birth of twins, Ruth and Rudy. They were born on the family farm and quickly learned the joys of working on the farm. Rudy loved taking care of the various animals, baling hay, and working the crops. When he was 21 years old, Rudy was drafted into the US Army where he worked as a transport specialist. During his time in the military, Rudy wrote letters to a gal he had met at a dance; her name was Betty, and she would go on to be his wife. The pair were married on May 18, 1957 at St. Paul Lutheran in Jordan and started their life together. They lived in Jordan for a little while before moving back to Betty’s family farm. Rudy loved to work on the farm and enjoyed teaching his three sons hard work. One of the ways he did that was by making homemade ice cream. He would bring chipped ice back from the river to the house and then he and the boys would take turns cranking the ice cream machine. When he wasn’t on the farm, Rudy worked for Continental Machines.
After his retirement, Rudy loved to spend time in his shop tinkering on anything he could get his hands on. He’d spend all day in the shop with an occasional nap mixed in. Rudy also found time to drive bus for the Head Start Program in Jordan. His greatest sense of joy came from his grandchildren. They loved to spend time at the farmhouse and drive a four-wheeler or occasionally ride a cow with grandpa. He was proud to be the grandpa to 6 wonderful granddaughters and his great grandchildren.
Strong willed and independent, Rudy will be greatly missed by his sons, Mark (Linda) Fahrenkamp, David (Renee) Fahrenkamp, James Fahrenkamp; grandchildren, Tracy (Jason Ohmann) Fahrenkamp, Jessica (Jason Ellerbusch) Fahrenkamp, Erin (Josh) Stocker, Brittany Fahrenkamp, Arianna Fahrenkamp, Caitlyn Fahrenkamp; great grandchildren, Michael, Isla, Sage; and other loving relatives and friends. Rudy is preceded in death by his wife; Betty Fahrenkamp; parents, Rudolph and Emilie Fahrenkamp; infant daughter, Tracy Lee Fahrenkamp; great granddaughters, Aria and Everly; and siblings, Lorna (Ed) Plekkenpol, Harvey (Jeanne) Fahrenkamp, Waldo (Arlene) Fahrenkamp, Ruth Fahrenkamp, and Gerald “Jerry” (Arlis) Fahrenkamp.
