A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 18 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Interment will be held in the parish cemetery following the service.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Parish prayers will be at 5:15 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home.

Rudolph Joseph Vait was born March 17, 1924 in New Ulm, Minnesota to Frank and Mary (Hartel) Vait. He married Shirley Weisensel on September 12, 1946 at Church of the Visitation Swan Lake rural Nicollet. Rudy and Shirley were married for 72 years and 8 months to the date. The couple farmed near Fairfax, Minnesota until moving to a farm near Sauk Centre in 1959. Rudy and Shirley moved off the farm in 1985, but Rudy kept farming until he retired in 1990.

Rudy was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, St. Paul’s Catholic United, Senior Citizens, Z-Bowl Bowling League and Senior Bowling. He ushered at St. Paul’s Catholic Church on weekends and was also an usher for funerals at the church for over 30 years. After retiring, Rudy enjoyed bowling and playing cards.

Rudy is survived by his wife of 72 years, Shirley Vait of Sauk Centre; children, Delores (Ramiro “Nino”) Rodriguez of Laredo, TX, Darlene Rooney of Sauk Centre, Myron (Mary) Vait of Clearwater, Howard Vait of Stanley, WI, Alfred “Al” Vait of Jupiter, FL, Joanne Vait of Brenham, TX, Lester (Susan) Vait of Springfield, MO, Norbert (Ruth) Vait of Brooten, Randy (Lisa) Vait of Clearwater, Donald (Terry) Vait of Clearwater, Gordon (Lori) Vait of Atlanta, GA, Gregg (Anna) Vait of Pierz; daughter-in-law, Sandra Vait of Sauk Centre; 37 grandchildren, 78 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Glenn Vait and Martin Vait; daughters-in-law, Eileen Vait, Betty Vait, and Donna Vait; son-in-law, Robert Rooney, Jr.; grandsons, Christopher Rooney and Adrian Vait; step-granddaughter, Rochelle Lehner; brothers, William Vait and Hugo Vait; and sisters, Rose Steiner and Cecelia Sellner.

Serving as casket bearers will be Aaron Rodriguez, Mark Vait, John Rooney, Scott Escher, Mark Vait, Jami Vait, Neoche Vait, and Anthony Vait. Cross bearer will be Kelly Vait and scripture bearer will be Jacinta Rooney. Readers will be Jodi Vait, Kristina Vait, Mary Rose Rooney, and Missy Vait. Gift bearers will be Easton Vait, Katie Vait, Samantha Vait, and Theresa Cheadle.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.

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