Claude Leon Rydalch, 84

Claude Leon Rydalch, 84, longtime resident of Idaho Falls, Idaho, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017.

His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building located at 651 Gladstone Street, Idaho Falls. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. and a luncheon will follow the funeral service. Burial will be at Teton-Newdale Cemetery.

Claude was born in Grantsville, Utah, Oct. 21, 1933. He graduated from Sugar-Salem High School and attended the University of Utah.

Claude married Barbara Jeanniene Shields on May 9, 1956. In May of 2016, they held a 60th wedding anniversary celebration in Idaho Falls.

Claude worked as a firefighter for the Idaho Falls Fire Department for 25 years. He was a driver for 16 of those years, and for nearly five years, he was a paramedic. His selfless service is remembered by residents to this day.

He also worked for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Monte’s Mobile Homes.

Claude greatly enjoyed sports, especially basketball, football and softball. He also wrestled, and was happy to drive the Star Valley High School State Champions wrestling team to their games, after he retired from the fire department.

Claude was an active member of the LDS Church and served two missions; he was called to the Great Lakes Mission in 1953, for two years, and in 1999 he served with his sweetheart for one and a half years in the Utah Salt Lake City Family History Mission, where they indexed Ellis Island records.

Claude was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Mary (Robinson); his brother, Charles Rodney; his daughter, Mary Eliza; his sister-in-law, Dauna (Murland); his daughter-in-law, Melanie (first wife of son Mike); his great-grandchild, Rob Saad Jr.; and his sister, Jolene (Ralph) Cluff.

Claude is survived by his wife, Jeanniene; their children, Lee (Janis), Carey (Audrey), Robin (Dan) Whitworth, Mike (Darlene), Wendy (Allen) Jones, and Todd (Trisha); his siblings, Don (Doralee), Janice (Merle) Jeppesen, and Murland; 21 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.

The family thanks the folks at Schwab Mortuary & Crematory of Afton, Wyoming, and those who have graciously served.