Louis “Louie” M. Rudlaff, 79, of Dowagiac,  passed away at his home on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009.

His family will gather with friends on Friday, Sept. 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. at McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home in Dowagiac.

His funeral service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bridgman led by the Rev. Jon Bendewald.

He will be laid to rest in Mission Hills Cemetery, Niles at a later date.

He was born on March 28, 1930 in Berrien Springs, the son of Herman and Ottilia (Ragus) Rudlaff.

He was a farmer and owner of Louie’s Bar in Bridgman for 19 years.

Louie was also employed by Weldon International in Bridgman until retirement in 1992.

He had been married to Beverly Canfield Rudlaff, who preceded him in death in November 1998 and then married to Laurel Purdy Rudlaff on Jan. 8, 2000 in Bridgman.
He was a well known accordion player and was the band leader of the Polka-Nuts Band.
He was a volunteer fireman for the Bridgman Volunteer Fire Department. Louie was a member of the D.A.N.K. and the Kicker’s Club.

His greatest joy was his family which includes his wife, Laurel of Dowagiac: children Patricia (Jack) Herman of Galien and Louis Benjamin Rudlaff of Niles: step daughter Mary (Tom) Cagney of Cassopolis; grandchildren, Angela Rudlaff of Niles, Christopher Herman of Galien, Danielle Hradel, Kayla Rudlaff and Adrianna Rudlaff, all of Niles, William Merrick, Jr of Northville, and Megan (Paul) Pena of Muskegon; great-grandchildren, Lela Quiggle, Joshua Rudlaff, Lillie Hradel, McKenzie Meyer, Zayn and Qays Merrick; sisters, Helen Strefling of Galien, Dorothy Vance of California, Eleanor Hoge of Baroda, and Emma Brenner of Plymouth, and a brother, Paul Rudlaff of Niles.
He was preceded in death by a grandson, Michael James Priebe and 10 brothers and sisters.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Immanuel Lutheran Church and School.

Please sign his guestbook and leave a memory of Louie at www.mclauchlin-clark.com.
Arrangements were by McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home in Dowagiac.