Gordon "Gordy" Rudolph

Christmas, MI / Northbrook, IL

Gordon “Gordy” Rudolph, age 79, of Christmas, Michigan and formerly of Northbrook, Illinois, died unexpectedly, Sunday, September 8, 2019 at his home in Christmas.  He was born on January 22, 1940 to the late Edward and Lauretta (Powell) Rudolph.  Gordy participated in the 1964 Winter Olympics in Speed Skating and then in Speed Cyclist in 1966 Summer Olympics.  He raced motorcycles at Pikes Peak and snowmobiles at Eagle River and anywhere he could go fast.  Gordy’s love for speed pushed him to create Rudolph’s Indy where he invented the Polaris IFS front suspensions for snowmobiles and many other snowmobile innovations.

He is survived by his daughters – Samantha (Jeffrey) Stoudt of Ottawa, IL and Heather Rudolph of Waukegan, IL; grandchildren – Noah, Charli, and T.J.; and - sister Sally (Tom) Adkisson of Lincolnshire, IL.  Gordy was preceded in death by his parents, and daughter Shannon Brunning.

Services will be held at the Grace Lutheran Church 2245 Walters Ave., Northbrook, IL 60062, on Sunday, September 15, 2019.  Visiting time will begin at 2:30 and his memorial service will begin at 3:00 p.m. (c.s.t).