Lyndon (Buck) Ruediger

Lyndon E. Ruediger, of rural Hermann, passed away Monday, April 15th, 2024 at his home.  He was born in Hermann (at the Workman Hospital) on December 10, 1948 and lived his entire life in the community. He was the son of the late Victor F. Ruediger and Leona (Bickmeyer/ Ruediger) Vohs of Hermann, Missouri. 

Lyndon was a rather successful businessman spending the first 42 years of his career with Kellwood Company/ American Recreation Products. His position with this company was Vice President of Global Sourcing at the time that he retired in 2008. Mr. Ruediger’s second career was with HKD Global, LTD. HKD Global, LTD. is the world’s largest camping tent manufacturer with facilities in Bangladesh and world headquarters in Hong Kong. He began with this company as President and held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer.

During his long career, he made well over fifty business trips to approximately twenty different countries and developed a very solid reputation for ethics and honesty, gaining a reputation that his verbal commitments would always be honored. In 2010, he was recognized by the Missouri House of Representatives for his achievements in business both at the community level and the international level. During his employment with HKD Global, Lyndon reported to the owner of the company, Mr. H.B. Park., more important than being his employer, Mr. Park, his wife and sons, Ken Park (and family) and BJ Park (and family) were very close and very dear personal friends of Lyndon’s for many years.

He and his wife Janice Lee were, as he viewed it, “lifelong soulmates” and “best friends”. They enjoyed many common interests in life and spent most non-working hours together. They met in October 1976, and were married in St. Louis on July 22, 1978.  Lyndon had said that the one thing that he will truly miss when he passes, is the companionship of his wife, Janice. 

Lyndon's personal interests included his ranch outside of Hermann (The Split Rail). He greatly enjoyed the management and care of wildlife (turkeys and deer on his property). This fondness for management of wildlife was an activity and interest shared by his nephews Keith Ruediger, Clint Ruediger, Ryan Ruediger, and Lyndon's son Corey Ruediger. Additionally, Lyndon enjoyed horses and trail riding on his property. Much of this was done with his wife, Janice, and friends. Lyndon readily would admit that he never outgrew the fantasy of being an “old west cowboy”. And when participating in leisure activities, Lyndon was most recognizable when wearing a high crown Stetson hat and cowboy boots. 

Beyond this, Lyndon also enjoyed hunting. Much of this was done on his own property near Hermann, however, some was also done out West in the Colorado Rockies and the plains of Wyoming and Nevada. Additionally, he had gone on safaris in Africa/ Namibia and South Africa/, New Zealand and Australia harvesting big game such as water buffalo, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, kudu, and red stag to name a few. Most of these hunts were shared and enjoyed with his longtime hunting companions Eldo and Jannet Myer of Gerald, Missouri, and his wife Janice Ruediger. 

Other interests included the National Youth Hunting Association and the National Wild Turkey Federation. He was a passionate advocate of gun rights and introducing new hunters to the sport of hunting. Much effort was directed towards this end through his participation in the National Wild Turkey Federation's JAKES program. Mr. Ruediger served on the state board of the National Wild Turkey Federation for many years. During that time, he wrote numerous articles (published in the ShowMe Gobler and other outdoor magazines) that were intended to further the cause of introducing young folks to the sport of hunting.  More recently, he became affiliated with the National Youth Hunting Association (NYHA) and became a director on their national board of directors in 2011. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Victor Ruediger and Leona (Ruediger) Vohs, and his step father, Harold Vohs, all of the Herman area. Survivors include Janice Ruediger, his wife of 45 years, two sons, Ross Landon Ruediger and wife Jeanne Jakle of San Antony, TX, and Corey George Ruediger of Washington, MO, two grandchildren, Payton Ruediger of Washington, MO and Jake Altgelt of San Antonio, TX. Other survivors include one brother, Russell Ruediger of St. Peters, Missouri and one step sister, Ernestine Mueller and husband Steve of Hermann. Additionally, Lyndon is survived by nephews and hunting buddies Keith Ruediger, Ryan Ruediger and Clint Ruediger and their families and one niece, Annette Nielon and family of Dallas Texas. 

Lyndon was a member of St. Paul’s, United Church of Christ in Hermann and St. John's UCC of Stolpe, Mo.  He was a very soft-spoken, loving, caring, gentle soul who always gave back at every opportunity possible. He dedicated his life to work, outdoors, family and friends; and was a true cowboy, who loved his horse, Rock. He is loved and will be dearly missed by all who knew him. 

Visitation will be held Sunday, April 21st from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home, Hermann.

Funeral services will be held Monday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Hermann, with Rev. Andy Wilson officiating.

Burial will be at St. John's Cemetery, Stolpe.  Memorials may be given to Hermann Area Crusade Against Cancer or the cemetery.