Dubnicka Family
Dubnicka was local multi-sport star
Posted Living Sussex Sun, March 10, 2015
A Lannon, Butler and Fussville man larger than life, Rudolph “Rudy” J. Dubnicka passed away Feb. 9, survived by seven children, 20 grandchildren and 24 great grand children, with many still living in the immediate area. He was 87 years old.
Dubnicka stood out on the baseball diamond in the area, particularly with the Lannon Land O’Lakes baseball franchise, and also cultivated a career on the bowling lanes.
One of seven children, Rudy was born in 1927, and he attended Lannon grade school where his favorite playground activity was baseball, often with his twin sister Val* and his brothers.
In 1949, Rudy was a member of the first Lannon Grand Championship team. That same year, he was married to Mary Ann Gundrum at St. Anges Catholic Church in Butler. They celebrated 50 years of marriage before her death in 1999.
Rudy’s baseball teams won the title again every year from 1953-56, then in 1958, 1961, 1963 and 1969. As a coach, manager or simply a spectator, Lannon won seven more times in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. He was inducted into the Land O’Lakes Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.
When he picked up a bowling ball, he quickly achieved a 200 average, rolling a 300 at Sussex Bowl before the house even had sanctioned league. He eventually became a member of the USA Bowling Hall of Fame.
Rudy worked as a Lannon Stone cutter and worked in construction. Evidence of his craft can be found on streets in Lisbon, with roads bearing the name “Dubnicka Drive,” “Rudy Lane” and “Rudy Jr. Court,” as well as “Mary Ann Court” in honor of his wife.
He also operated “Rudy’s Fresh Produce,” visiting stands around the area and selling products from his farm in Fussville.
Rudy’s siblings include Val, John and Ann. He was preceded in death by siblings Steve, Mary and Stan.
Rudy’s life was celebrated with a funeral service and burial at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Fussville.
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*Correction: Valentine “Val” Dubnicka was Rudy’s twin BROTHER, see email, dated Aug 2, 2015, from Joanne Dubnicka below for clarification.
Hello,
I hope I am writing to the correct person. I just read the article on Rudy Dubnicka and it is very good. However, it has one incorrect bit of information: Rudy’s twin was a brother, Val (real name: Valentine Dubnicka but please use “Val”). He is my father and Rudy was my uncle.
If you are the correct person to write to, please could you correct that information. In their family, there were 6 boys and 2 girls. The girls were Mary and Anna; the boys were: Stanley, Steve, Joe, Rudy, Val, John. The parents were: Thomas and Maria Dubnicka.
Thank you very much for your time and assistance.
Joanne Dubnicka