Samuel Kenneth Rudolf, age 45, of Harrison, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at Shawneespring of Harrison, surrounded by his family. Sam was diagnosed with glioblastoma earlier this year, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. He fought a courageous battle against the tumor for 9 months. Born January 19, 1979, in Batesville, Indiana, he is the son of Kenneth and Ruthann (Nee: Simmermeyer) Rudolf. He married Karen Saunders on May 20, 2014, at Folly Beach, South Carolina.
Sam was an engineer for Baxter Healthcare (formerly Hill-Rom) in Batesville. He was a volunteer for the Hamilton County Parks, was an Eagle Scout, and was still active with the Boy Scouts, Crosby Pack 293 in Harrison. Sam was a member of the Army Reserve and achieved the rank of Sergeant. He was called up to active duty for 18 months in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom and for 6 months on a peace keeping mission in Guatemala.
A beloved/loving son, husband, and father, Sam was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, forestry, camping and hiking. He owned several motorcycles and loved to do his own restoration work on classic vehicles.
He is survived by his wife Karen of Harrison; son Alex Rudolf at home; parents Kenneth and Ruthann Rudolf of Batesville; brothers Chris (Sherri) Rudolf of Batesville, Keith (Melissa) Rudolf of Albany, Georgia, and Matt Rudolf of Batesville; many nieces and nephews, as well as brothers- and sisters-in-law. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Quirin and Rita Rudolf and maternal grandparents Joseph and Elizabeth Simmermeyer.
Visitation is Saturday, November 2nd, from 8:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m., at the Weigel Funeral Home in Batesville. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m., at St. Louis Catholic Church in Batesville, with Fr. Suresh Ganta officiating. The inurnment will be at the St. Louis Cemetery, with military rites being conducted by the Ripley County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3183 and by the Prell-Bland American Legion Post #271 of Batesville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Sam’s memory to www.SECUFamilyHouse.org at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, or to www.TheRayofHopeFoundation.com for brain tumor awareness and research. For online condolences go to www.weigelfh.com.