Rudy Harold Laissle

Rudy Harold Laissle, 92, of Amarillo, Texas, passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2026, surrounded by the love of the family he cherished above all else. With his departure, the world lost one of its great storytellers, its most devoted sports fans, and a man whose smile could light up any room he walked into.

Rudy was born on October 4, 1933, in New York, New York, to Rudolph Harold Laissle and Grace Cusak. The baby of the family, Rudy grew up in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan alongside his three older sisters—Elizabeth (“Betty”), Ruth, and Caroline. Betty, the oldest, particularly doted on her little brother and lovingly called him “Junie.” As a boy in Washington Heights, Rudy played every sport he could get his hands on, but baseball held a special place in his heart—a love that would carry through his entire life.

Rudy proudly served four years in the United States Air Force before going on to earn his bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Louisiana Monroe, completing it in just three years. He then settled in San Antonio, Texas, where he would build his life and family.

A natural-born salesman with a gift for connecting with people, Rudy built a colorful career traveling across South Texas selling just about everything imaginable—glassware, matches, makeup, and even hummingbird feeders. If it could be sold, Rudy could sell it, and he’d have you laughing and swapping stories before you even realized you’d bought something.

It was that same irresistible charm that won him the love of his life. While calling on a beauty shop, Rudy met a young woman named Kathy and told her she had “the most beautiful blue eyes he’d ever seen.” Six months later, on a leap of faith and a whole lot of love, Rudy and Kathleen Frances Douvry were married in 1967. They celebrated 58 extraordinary years together—a partnership built on laughter, devotion, and the kind of love that only deepens with time.

Together, Rudy and Kathy raised two children, Sean and Shannon, and Rudy poured himself into fatherhood with everything he had. He was his kids’ biggest cheerleader. He coached Sean’s teams growing up and was a famously vocal critic of the referees—never one to keep his opinions to himself when a bad call was made. With Shannon, he told every single person he encountered—clerks, nurses, strangers in line—that his daughter was a doctor. He beamed with pride for both of his children every single day.

Sean and Shannon both treasure memories of pizza nights when Rudy was in charge of cooking on the evenings Kathy worked late. Those nights weren’t just about the pizza—they were about a dad who made ordinary moments feel special.

Rudy was a jokester through and through. He always had a big smile on his face, loved to make funny faces, goof around, and keep everyone laughing. He had the gift of gab like no one else—he’d tell you about the new restaurant in town, the billboard you just passed, or a story you’d heard three times before but somehow enjoyed even more each telling. A conversation with Rudy was never short, and you were always better for it.

Sports were a lifelong passion. Rudy was a die-hard San Antonio Spurs fan who religiously watched every game. He loved basketball, college football, and all things athletic. When his grandson Ian took up baseball, it brought Rudy full circle to his own boyhood days in Washington Heights. He knew every kid on all of Ian’s teams and found great joy in watching him play the game he’d loved since childhood. He came to nearly every show, recital, and game his kids and grandkids were part of—always present, always cheering.

Rudy had an eye for the finer things in life. He was a legendary shopper who loved picking out clothes for Shannon and Kathy, and he had a particular fondness for housewares—seeming to find a reason to buy a new comforter every few months. He kept the house and cars meticulously clean, and everything around him reflected his attention to detail and personal style.

He loved the music of the ’70s and ’80s—Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson—and, of course, smooth jazz. He never missed a chance to dance to these tunes. And for years, in what became one of the family’s favorite running jokes, Rudy lied about his age to his own children, never letting them know just how old he really was.

He loved a good glass of wine, a great story, and above all, his family.

Rudy is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Kathleen Frances Laissle of Amarillo; his son, Sean Laissle and wife Rebecca; his daughter, Shannon Herrick and husband Jason; and seven grandchildren who were the light of his life: Landry, Avery, Ian, Sydney, Claire, Cole, and Alyssa. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rudolph and Grace Laissle, and his three sisters, Elizabeth, Ruth, and Caroline.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, April 13, 2026, at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79109. Burial will follow in Llano Cemetery. The family invites all who knew and loved Rudy to come share a story, a laugh, and a memory of a man who never met a stranger.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center – Fund for Pediatric Excellence, a passion project of his daughter Shannon that Rudy was extremely proud of.