Obituary: Rodolfo Rodriguez
Rodolfo Rodriguez (November 19, 1941 – August 17, 2023)
Rodolfo Rodriguez, 81, passed away peacefully at home on August 17, 2023. At 81, it still seemed like a life cut short, as he always managed to live life to the fullest. He went by both Rod and Rudy, so he will be addressed as both.
Rod/Rudy was born on November 19, 1941, to Juanita and Casimiro Rodriguez in Ann Arbor, Michigan. When he graduated from Dexter High School in 1959, he joined the Navy where he began to learn the electrical trade. After leaving the Navy, Rod/Rudy became a truck driver and had his own Mayflower moving truck. He made his way back to electrical work and never looked back. He was a journeyman electrician and member of IBEW Local 252 for 56 years and was also an instructor for the electrical apprenticeship program. He even represented union workers in Washington DC. If there was a picket line to fight for workers’ rights, he was there, rain or shine, even into his 70s.
Rod/Rudy met his wife Karen (Henes) Rodriguez in high school, and they got married in 1967. They moved to Manchester, Michigan and went on to have two children, Rod and Rachel. Rod/Rudy resided in Manchester for most of his life. He coached t-ball and softball teams, volunteered at the Manchester Chicken-Broil, and supported local teams by cheering as loudly as possible.
As a young person, he was raised in the Catholic faith and later parted ways with that religion. He joined the United Methodist Church in Manchester in the 1980s where he made many friends. In 1990, Rod/Rudy moved on to Unity Church in Ann Arbor. He volunteered many hours helping to build the Unity Church of Ann Arbor. Later, he decided to move on and was a founder of The Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth in Ann Arbor, which just celebrated its 25th year. He spent a significant amount of time helping to renovate the location for the Center and even more studying “A Course in Miracles” with friends. He believed strongly in an all-loving God and in spreading a message of love. Rod/Rudy helped to light up the world by assisting friends and family with electrical challenges, and by giving big hugs to everyone he could.
During his retirement, Rod/Rudy enjoyed going on fishing trips to Canada, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. In 2019, he moved to Ajijic, Mexico, where he danced, ate steak, soaked in the natural hot springs, spent time with friends, studied and debated “A Course in Miracles,” and spread joy and hugs wherever he could.
Rod/Rudy was predeceased by his parents Casimiro and Juanita Rodriguez, his wife Karen (Henes) Rodriguez, and his brother Roberto Rodriguez. He is survived by his son Rod (Amy) Rodriguez, his daughter Rachel (Bobby) Arocha, his brother Raul Rodriguez, his grandchildren, Kyle, Austin and Kaitlyn Rodriguez and Gabriela Arocha, as well as many loving nieces and nephews.
Rod/Rudy was cremated on August 21, 2023. A Celebration of Life gathering is being planned for Sunday, September 17th from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm at the IBEW Local 252 Union Hall at 7920 Jackson Road Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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