Don Rudisel

Donald Allen Rudisel Jr., “Don” was born in St. Paul Minnesota to the late Donald Allen Rudisel Sr. and Eva Balian Rudisel. Don grew up in White Bear Lake, a township outside of St. Paul with his two brothers, Charles Aram Rudisel, “Charlie” and his younger brother Randall Arnold Rudisel, “Randy”. Don’s mother was one of five daughters born to Aram H. Balian and Karzouhi Ousdigian Balian, immigrants from Armenia during the genocide of Christian Armenian citizens in the Ottoman Empire in 1915. In their new life together in America, Don’s grandma and grandpa with their 5 daughters and their families provided a close-knit family with a deeply Christian heritage. They bestowed traditions of carpentry, rug weaving, gardening, cooking & baking, that would be treasured for generations. Traditional meals at their homes commonly included delicious Armenian dishes of madzoon (homemade yogurt), Boreg (delicious elaborate cheese pastry), dolma (stuffed grape leaves), pilaf and other tasty meats and vegetables. Throughout his life, Don loved preparing these dishes, especially making Boreg for his family.

Don went to school in White Bear Lake where he proved to be an excellent student. He then graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota in Mechanical Engineering. Soon after graduation, Exxon (now Exxon-Mobil) recruited him to move south to Baton Rouge and work at the Chemical Plant.

In 1979, after a year of dating, he married Patricia Cragin, “Pati”, a Baton Rouge LSU girl that he had met out by the pool at their apartment complex. Don and Pati had 2 children: Holly Elizabeth and Matthew David. The Rudisel family lived in Baton Rouge, where Don carried on the traditions of gardening almost year-round, producing a beautiful bounty of fruits and vegetables for Pati to transform into meals. In 1983, in the midst of life’s typical marriage struggles, Don & Pati had a spiritual rebirth that totally transformed and redirected their lives. They came to the realization that although they were attractive, intelligent, successful, and looking like the perfect family, there was a huge void in their lives… a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and a commitment to the Body of Christ which is the Church. Through the love & discipleship of a group of Christ-centered believers, Don & Pati saw their marriage restored and their lives refocused on living for and serving Jesus. They began praying together each morning before Don went to work and seeking the Lord’s direction in the decisions of everyday life.

During 25 years at The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, Don was in leadership serving on the vestry, working tirelessly at Our Fathers Garden, and serving as the sound/tech man for the Worship Team. Along with Pati, Don served in many other capacities at Holy Spirit and at CFO, A Christian Family Camp in Alabama that they attended every June for 20 years. Jesus had become the center of their lives, and HE would remain so for the rest of their days. In 2015 The Rudisels joined Antioch Community Church, where they enjoyed discipling young adults, going on a mission trip to Marseilles, France and where Don served as an elder for several years until his recent illness.

Including several years as a contract engineer, Don worked at Exxon for almost 50 years. His steadfastness and stability there garnered him the reputation of an Engineering Guru. He was known among his colleagues for his brilliance, integrity, precision, resourcefulness, and excellence in everything he did. In addition to his engineering skills, his office door was always open at lunchtime, a known invitation to younger colleagues who needed counsel, wisdom, or prayer for the struggles in their personal lives. This part of his workday was a special treasure to Don, these relationships, and opportunities to pour into young men were very dear to his heart.

It is well known that Don & Pati’s son Matthew, born 3 1/2 months premature, has significant special needs including Cerebral Palsy and Autism. Along with Pati, Don has spent his life, building, modifying and fixing equipment and providing the hands-on total care that Matthew requires.

In 2000, their daughter Holly, enlarged the family when she married her long-time boyfriend Robert “Robby” Owens, and several years later blessed Don & Pati with 2 precious grandsons, Connor Preston and Carson Oliver. Being able to share his gifts and skills with these 2 boys was a true joy to Don and filled the void that he felt not being able to share those things with Matthew.

Besides his children and his grandsons, Don’s life was arrayed with his love for dogs. After enjoying the lives of 2 Dobermans and then 2 Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Don and Pati began to adopt rescues, always big dogs. The current pack includes Don’s faithful guardian and shadow, Finnley (Shepherd/Lab); Sammi (husky); Ladybug (Doberman); and the newest addition and first little dog, the family clown & heartbeat, Lil’ Bear (2 yr old Shih Tzu). Don’s devotion and love for his dogs (and Holly’s 3 dogs) was palpable. They were his delight each and every day.

After 2 years of struggling with significant health issues, Don passed from this earth to his heavenly home on Monday April 20, 2026. Complications during a recent hospitalization for bilateral pneumonia and sepsis, caused multiple system failures and resulted in the decision to move him from the hospital to The Crossing at Clarity, an inpatient hospice facility. Less than 24 hours later, the angels came to lead him home to that place where there is no more pain or suffering, but only joy.

Missing him terribly on this earth, but rejoicing that he is with Jesus are his wife, Pati; son, Matthew; daughter, Holly and son-in-law Robby; and grandsons, Connor and Carson. The family from “Up North” include his amazing and very dear almost 97 year old “Aunt Lucy”, Lucy Rorke-Adams, MD; brothers Charlie and Randy and wife Jan; niece, Katrina Rudisel and nephew, Brandon Rudisel; cousins, Juliet Seropian, Gregory Broburg, Karen Hartberg and husband Steve.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Eva Rudisel; grandparents, Aram and Karzouhi Balian; aunts and uncles, Harriet “Ricky” Balian, Maline & Esksil Broburg, Elizabeth & Eddie Seropian, and Robert Rorke.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Resthaven Funeral Home.

All visitation and service will be held at Don & Pati’s church, Antioch Community Church, located near the south gates of LSU, 151 W. Parker Blvd, in Baton Rouge.

Visitation will be held at Antioch Community Church, on Friday, May 8, 2026, from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Visiting hours will resume on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Antioch Community Church, at 11:00 AM, until the Celebration of Life Service at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Don’s name to Antioch Community Church Purpose Fund, https://ppay.co/kvXNqCgk680, or to CYT, Christian Youth Theatre, a local performing arts ministry dear to our hearts, https://www.cytbatonrouge.org/donate/ Flowers or plants may be sent to Resthaven Funeral Home, they will transport them to the church.

For those unable to attend, services will be livestreamed on Antioch Community Church's Youtube channel, @Antiochbatonrouge