Rudolph (Rudy) Edward Laumbach

Rudy passed away peacefully, thanks to hospice, after a difficult fight with cancer. 

One of his greatest joys was gathering people to see what could be done to make things better. 

He was born in Ludlow, Colo., but New Mexico ranch life formed  his childhood;   It was the life he loved and always sought out.  When he was a child his family  settled on a ranch a few miles south of Las Vegas, N.M.

Rudy graduated from Menaul School in Albuquerque and attended  New Mexico State University, working toward a degree in engineering.  In-between and along the way he served in the Navy.  He married the love of his life, Joan McCune and they had two sons, Blaine and Blair.  At that time he was working  for the New Mexico Highway Department.  traveling around the state with a survey crew.

After graduation from New Mexico State University,  Rudy moved his family to California to pursue an engineering job with the State of California. He worked for California his entire career, finally retiring as a Division Manager.  While living in California he would regularly return to his parents’ ranch. Even in California, however, he established a 15 acre ranching operation in the Central Valley near Oakdale.

After retirement Rudy and Joan returned to his  beloved New Mexico and built a home on the family ranchland.  He rejoined the Las Vegas community, the Presbyterian Church, the Masonic Lodge and  the Citizens’ Committee for Historic Preservation, becoming a leader in all of them.   Because of his passion for history, he became a life-time board member of the Menaul Historic Library of the Southwest. He initiated and fully participated in many positive changes in the community, including  the restoration of the Old Town Mission Church. 

Because of his large family connections, he had a  big interest in genealogy. Soon after he met a new person he would question them about their family and where they were from. It was like he won a point if he established a personal connection to them through business or blood. 

Rudy will be dearly missed by his family and friends.  Because of his sense of humor and love for people, Rudy endeared himself to everyone he met.  

Rudy’s funeral service  will be held on June 29, 2024 at 10 a.m.  at the First United Presbyterian Church in Las Vegas, zoom  available. Interment will  follow at the Laumbach Family Cemetery, then a Celebration of Life luncheon will follow at the Spic & Span Banquet hall.

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