Rudy D. Walser, 61, passed away in his home in Van Wert on June 25, 2016. He was born on September 8, 1954, the son of P. Elaine (Drake) Walser who survives in Van Wert and the late Fred L. Walser. Other family members include a sister, Rita Walser-Tracy of Van Wert; two brothers, Rex (Sandy) Walser and Rick Walser all of Van Wert; a niece, Sarah Tracy (Cody Roberts) of Van Wert; and three nephews, Ken Walser of Delphos, Codi (Lindsey) Walser of Middle Point, and Clint Walser of Van Wert Rudy was a 1972 graduate of Van Wert High School. He then served in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Wainwright near Fairbanks, Alaska. He was a company clerk on the base and spoke fluent German and Russian. After the service, he attended the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. He received bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees in anthropology and archeology. He lectured all across Canada and was on digging sites in the Aleutian Islands, Washington State, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming and Ohio. He lived in many of these states. He returned to Ohio to be closer to family and worked at I & K Distributing in Delphos for many years, then retired from Lakeview Farms. Rudy loved the Alaskan wilderness and enjoyed fishing, hunting, horses, painting, movies and cigars. He was a quiet, good-hearted man and a devoted son. There will be calling hours 4 - 6 p.m., Thursday, June 30, 2016, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home. Interment will take place 11 a.m., Saturday, July 2, 2016, at Tomlinson Cemetery where military rites will be conducted by the combined honor guard of the American Legion and V.F.W. Post of Van Wert. Preferred memorials are to the American Legion Post #178, Van Wert. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded at cowanfuneralhome.com