Honoring The Man Of A Lifetime!Raymond Erwin Dudek, Jr.
2/23/1942-5/17/2023One of the greatest men God ever created!Humble, Giving, Brave, Devoted, Dedicated, Honorable, & Full of Grace…MY HERO!He is and will forever be, greatly missed!!

Ray Dudek was a Mason, a Shriner, a member of the Eastern Star, the Melha German and Military bands, and others that I am sure I'm forgetting. St Paul's would not have been what it was without his time and dedication. And of course there was his work. During his time at work, the one he most often spoke about was his time working on NASA projects. He was proud to have his name listed among names that reside on the moon to this day. Words that described him were words like "friend, funny, caring, generous, kind, exceptional, firm, and fair." He treated everybody equally, and was proud of it. He took no shortcuts, led by example, gave selflessly, always offered help, and rarely asked for any. He was a brother, a friend, a collegue, a leader, and a hero. He was respected, looked up to, cherished, adored, and loved. He touched so many lives, either directly through those that knew him, or indirectly through the actions and memories of those who did, and today we gather to share those memories, those stories, and to celebrate his life and his memory.I would like to give you a glimpse into another part of his life and share a few stories of a man I met over 25 years ago, two words that come to MY mind when I think of him. Family & Love. Because despite all the time he dedicated to so many people, those two words are also the words he spent over 3/4 of his life living by. The words that mattered most to him. The camping trips, the times at the beach, and the commutes he made to make it all possible. The care for their home, the way he provided, and his nurturing and caring unconditional love. The long hours he worked so his wife could be a full time mother for their children. You can get an idea of just how important those two words were to him if you glance at the photo displays in this room today.You see, the core of his life surrounded his Family & the Love for his family. His beloved wife of 61 years Sandy, his loving daughters RuthAnne and her husband Peter, and JoAnne and her husband Bo. His brother Fred and Fred’s wife Barbara. His grandkids, and great grandkids. Papa loved you so deeply and was so proud of all of you. And also the extended family members, nieces, nephews, cousins - too many for me to mention by name without knowing I’ll miss a few. Those who are with us today, those with us in spirit from afar, and those who are no longer with us.I first met him when I pulled into their driveway to pick up their daughter JoAnne. I was nervous, but even more so than just a man meeting the father of a woman he's courting. This felt different. I stepped out of my Ford Probe, and I mention the car because of his passion for cars and his Excallibur. But I mainly mention the car because it would become the ice breaker in a conversation that would change my life forever.I was greeted by a confident man, a strong man, a proud man. He extended his hand to shake mine and said "Hi, I'm Ray". I said "Pleasure to meet you Mr. Dudek". "No, just call me Ray" he said. He sensed a nervous crackle in my voice and saw it in my eyes and instantly turned the conversation to my car. His goal was always to make the others feel comfortable and welcome. As we chatted, we covered a few topics, and at one moment he looked at me and said “Well, she’s your problem now” both lovingly and jokingly as we shared a laugh. I sensed that nervousness leave me as if he took it off my shoulders and placed it upon his own. A calmness came over me I'll never be able to explain. He had a way of doing that. But then and there, that conversation, that moment, I felt it. Family & Love. I wasn't family, not yet anyway, but I mattered. Because anyone or anything that mattered to one of his loved family members, mattered to him.So when JoAnne and I got married, I was lucky to get a front row seat to those words. Family & Love. Ray became dad and Sandy became mom. JoAnne's older sister RuthAnne became my sister, and her husband Peter became my brother. Dad's brother Fred became my uncle and Fred's wife Barbara became my aunt. JoAnne’s son Derek became my son. RuthAnne’s daughters Nicole and Allyson became my nieces. Basically, dad’s family became my family, and I became his. The words “in law” didn’t apply. We never spoke of them. We were family. And I felt as though I was family from that day in the driveway. Dad made me feel that way. As time went on, I was blessed to enjoy this front row seat to the laughter, the tears, breaking bread, the prayers, grace at the table, the stories and the memories. He cherished and loved his family above all. Family & Love.Some years later, when I lost my own father, dad was there. He never sat me down with a pep talk, or said "if you need to talk I'm here." He spoke softly by his actions and led by example. And those actions came when I needed them most and never even knew it. He would show up conveniently when I needed help with something, or when I just needed that figure in my life. He would frequently call me up and say “Hey Bo, it’s dad”, as if he really needed to remind me of who he was. It was a hand on my shoulder, a comforting lesson, or a look in his eyes. When I grieved my father, he grieved with me. He felt my pain, and I felt him feel it. That is what dad's do. That's what he dedicated his life doing for his Family & Love.What seems as not that long ago, JoAnne & I were pulling into their driveway for a visit. I stepped out of our car and walked toward the house only to find dad working in the barn. I walked over to him and found the garage door torn apart. Pullies, cables, bolts, nuts, and screws strategically spread over the barn floor. Those that knew him well knew he was very meticulous with the way he worked. It was common for him to use jigs to work perfectly on a project, and if he didn't already have one, he made one. I asked him "Dad, do you need a hand?" He replied with sweat running down his face and the glasses slipping down "You know Bo, it's my damn eyes. I can't see like I used to." I replied "It's ok Dad, I'll help." And we put everything back together.Once we tested everything to satisfaction, we spoke. And at one point, words that resonated with me came out that I feel the need to share today. He said "I just want everything to be right for mom. I want it perfect. I want my girls taken care of." And even as recently as days ago, it was leaving mom behind that he feared most. Family & Love, right to the end.Lord, we pray today not for sadness, but for his joyful memory, for his love and for his time. We celebrate his life, his family, and his love. We ask that You take Your loyal servant back home into Your Kingdown as he has completed Your service here on earth. We pray that You comfort his family as we thank You for lending him to us and creating an exceptionally good person, a good man, a good son, a good brother, a good father, and a good husband.Dad, You defined Family & Love in your actions every single day, and you taught all of us the meaning of those words. It became no accident that those words resonate with me daily. You did everything the right way and we are so proud and thankful. Thank you for being family and for trusting me with yours. We pray that you always catch that big fish, that you enjoy all the pierogis and forbidden chocolate you want, that you continue to make everybody laugh, and that you play that accordion and make sweet music in Heaven. Give everyone a hug from us. We will miss you without words, and love you forever while we complete our own journey with Family & Love.Rest easy Dad, you most certainly have earned it. And do not worry about mom and your girls, Peter and I will take it from here.