Rudolph "Rudy" Kantola,  95, of  Maryville, Illinois, passed away on July 16, 2021, at Anderson Hospital.

He was born on March 29, 1926, in Ravenna, Michigan to Sylvester and Hilma Kantola. He married Arzella "Arkie" Matilda on August 14, 1954.

Rudy was active with Our Lord's Lutheran Church of Maryville, Illinois. He retired from State Farm Mutual insurance Company as a Claims Superintendent.  Rudy organized and directed the Washington Recreation League in Washington, Illinois, and was a Director of the Little League Baseball Program and active in the Boy Scout fund drive while living in Washington, Illinois.

He formerly was Chairman of the Peoria Inter-Company Arbitration Board, member of the Peoria Casualty Association, a graduate of Vale Technical Institute, a graduate of the LaSalle Law Institute, and a graduate of the American Institute of Law and Insurance Institute.

Rudy served in the U.S Army as a Tech Sergeant and was stationed in Panama. He also was a graduate of Muskegon Junior College, and of Western Michigan University.

While living in Washington, Illinois, he was an active member of St. Marks Lutheran Church as well as a Finance Chairman, and a member of the Stewardship Committee.

He loved golf, bowling, and once upon a time, ice hockey.

While living in O'Fallon, Illinois, he owned and operated a Riding Horse Stable and then operated a farm and raised Black Angus cattle.

He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; and brothers: Arthur, Arnold, Alfred and Bill; sisters: Glady's Rogers and Eunice Bolkers.

Survivors include his sons: Eric Kantola and Kevin Kantola, both of Fullerton, California; sisters: Edna Johnston of Twin Lake, Michigan, Gertrude Veenman of Greenville, Michigan, and Elizabeth of Greenville, Michigan; sister-in-law, Christine Kantola of Revenna, Michigan, and sister-in-law, Agnes Kantola.

A memorial gathering will be held on Friday, July 23, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Our Lord's Lutheran Church in Maryville, Illinois. A memorial service will take place at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Darla Ann Kratzer officiating. Cremation has been accorded by Herr Funeral Home & Cremation Services.