Rudolph "Rudy" Pakes, Sr. June 4, 1926 ~ February 14, 2018

Rudolph M. Pakes Sr, 91, passed away peacefully and with grace in his home on February 14, 2018 his family by his side.

Rudy was born on June 4, 1926 in Belle Valley, Ohio. His parents Andrew Pakes and Susan Krempasky immigrated from what was then Czechoslovakia for the promise of the “American Dream.” They met and married in Belle Valley, where Andrew worked in the coalmines. Rudy had 5 brothers and 3 sisters. He had a wonderful childhood in Ohio, all of his siblings attended K-12 in a one-room schoolhouse.

Rudy ventured out to California where he met and married Wanda June Phillips. They were blessed two sons, Rudy Jr. and Kirk. Rudy and June opened a Café in Santa Monica in 1950 and purchased a Chevron Station in Culver City, CA in 1961. They followed their sons to South Lake Tahoe in 1977. In 1978 they purchased the El Nido Motel, which was a family-run business. Rudy also helped his sons with their pool & spa company for many years. He was quite the ambassador to all the accounts who enjoyed Rudy’s stories when he delivered their pool chemicals. Rudy’s wife June died in 1995 after 47 years of marriage.

He was fortunate to find love again with Edith Cruz. They were married in 1998 and were blessed with a son, Cody in 2000. Rudy and Cody were like two peas in a pod. Rudy was retired and a full-time parent to Cody participating in all of his school and extracurricular activities.

Rudy is preceded in death by all of his siblings. Rudy leaves behind to cherish his memories his wife, Edith; sons Rudy (wife Mary), Kirk (wife Bonnie), and Cody; 7 grandchildren: Travis, Rachelle, Tyler, Lucas, Derek, Karlie and Katelyn; 12 great grandchildren: Taylor, Nya, Bryant, Kayden, Brooklyn, Jude, Harper, Kennedy, Blake, Samsara, Jaxon and Jordyn; and many nieces and nephews. His grandchildren as well as locals and friends fondly called Rudy “Zedo”

Rudy enjoyed camping, league bowling, gambling, casino concerts (especially the Oak Ridge Boys) and playing basketball. He loved animals, birds, raising poodles, trained a squirrel monkey and had a squirrel atrium in his backyard in LA. He enjoyed traveling to Cuernavaca, Mexico to visit his wife’s family and attended his high school reunion in Ohio every year with his brother Carl into his late 80’s. More than anything he loved his family times together and memories with all of you!

Rudy will be remembered for his great stories, unique sense of humor, his love of coffee and “Western’s,” his killer dance moves and his unbelievable basketball career that lasted 8 decades.

A Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Sierra Community Church. A Reception will follow at St. Theresa's Grace Hall. The family has requested any gifts in Rudy Sr’s memory be made to: Barton Memorial Hospital Foundation and the South Lake Tahoe Humane Society.