I first met Jim in 1983 when Jeffrey and I stopped in Austin as we traveled home from the University of Arizona.  Jim was the first member of Jeffrey's family that I met.  He welcomed me with a large smile and pulled me aside to ask me if I knew Jeffrey's middle name. "It's Denke", he said, and his was "Renke" -- both were Slovenian names that I'd need to get used to if intended to stick around the family.  He then exploded in a large laugh. 

Over the years that I knew him, Jim lived in many different localities but one thing remained constant -- he embraced every place and experienced what it had to offer.  In Austin, he learned to sail on Lake Travis.  While in Lawrence, he became a gardener and  sampled many different varieties of Kansas City BBQ.  Bellingham and the Pacific Northwest brought hiking and kayaking.  A stint in Colorado led to backpacking and fishing and time in California and Reno fostered his interest in golf, Lake Tahoe, and gambling.  

Although Jim lived in many different places, he was never far away from our family.  Jeffrey and Jim were the best of friends and he was a well-loved "Unkie" to Chad and Mary.  He shared many joyful days with me and my family, and I am lucky to have known James Renke Rudolph.

I learned a lot about Jim through conversations with my dad, especially his mischievous nature throughout grade school.  Although he outgrew those antics, he continued to maintain a strong sense of humor and enthusiasm.  A standout memory I have is a vacation to Reno in which he introduced me to his passion for sports betting.  He taught me some of his strategies, culminating in a trip to San Fransisco where we went to a baseball game that I had placed a bet on.  He gave a standing ovation as the winning runs scored and the victory was all but assured.

Over the years, Jim and I shared a great friendship that included a variety of experiences, including sports talk, professional issues, and most importantly, comedic relief.  Jim’s intelligence and humor resulted in many intriguing conversations that left us bemused by life’s events.  Many thanks to him for all the pleasant memories.

Jeff Rudolph

James and I were separated in birth by 16 years.  When I started college, James was a preschooler.  Later we were separated by his college and work experiences.  Family members would keep me updated with intriguing stories of high-energy, adventurous life.
He was an outstanding student and athlete, an avid outdoorsman,   an accomplished handyman, a casino gamer.  When James did get back to Ohio, he entertained my kids and grandkids with stories     and playfulness.  We fondly recall him crawling on the floor with the “other kids “.  One of the last times I saw James was atop Mt. Rainier in Washington.  We shared the beauty and peacefulness of nature    as if we were very close friends even though our lives had been separated by time and distance.

Jim shared a road trip with me and my then husband soon after we married. I teased him that he shared my honeymoon. He was 12 years old at the time, always up for adventure.
Sister,  Marianne

Super Bowl 2016 - one of my favorite days we spent together

Ferry trip in to SF after orientation - summer 2015

Uncle Jim & I grew close when I moved to Reno to go to the University of Nevada. Leaving your parents at 18 is difficult, but Uncle Jim made sure the transition was as painless as possible. He never hesitated to bring me food or school supplies I shipped to his house, pick me up when I wanted to escape the dorms, or drive me to/from the airport. He taught me how to drive a golf ball and shoot a gun. He was always down to go grab our favorite Chinese food & hang out home & watch a movie. If we wanted to get out of the house, the casino or mini golf course were popular options. Even though he was a foot taller than me, he always picked the same size putter that I did, making me laugh whenever he had to hit the ball. He helped me gain confidence in myself, whether that be by driving his Honda CRV as a newly licensed 18 yr old or eating whatever new recipe I had attempted. 

One of my favorites memories is when he picked me up for Super Bowl Sunday (2016) and we drove to Tahoe to go to the MontBleu Casino to use his free dining dollars to eat an extravagant meal. After dinner, we walked over to harrahs where we played roulette & I guessed the correct color 5 times in a row, making us some money. He had me drive home that night, to get confidence in driving down a mountain at night. 

The college years are pivotal in shaping who you want to be & my Uncle Jim played a large role in helping me become who I am today. I will carry the lessons he taught me, “Remember the line from the Katy Perry Song, ‘It’s no big deal’”, with me for the rest of my life. 

We shared many laughs together and I miss him fiercely. 

Love you lots,
Mary Rudolph-Knobbe

Jim was very accomplished with both a law and econ degree. 

Years ago he help us with legal advice regarding a property dispute with our Ohio village.

In the last few years Jim would call Connie. Many times I would hear and sometimes participate in the conversations.  I got to know Jim in these last years and will miss him.

When Jim was four years old he’d wait for me to come home from high school. I was taking French. He would sit on my lap and we’d 
sing Frere Jacques and the alphabet in french. He learned so quickly.

It was during his illness that I realized how incredibly strong, brave and courageous he was - a true warrior. 
Miss him,
Sister Connie.

OBITUARY

James Ronald Rudolph

August 21, 1960 – May 6, 2026

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