John Kim Rudolph

John Kim Rudolph (Kun Sop Jun), 83, of Rockford, IL, passed away peacefully Thursday morning, December 14, 2023. John was born January 2, 1940 in Chungbuk Province, Korea. As a young man surviving among the many displaced in the Korean War, John befriended US serviceman Roger Rudolph, stationed in Korea. Roger’s parents, Emery and Lois Rudolph, adopted John bringing him to Rockford in 1958. John became Rockford’s first Korean born citizen. He attended Rockford West High School, where he was elected Sophomore class president in 1960 and graduated in 1962. John was a true entrepreneur and literally lived the “American Dream”. Within 15 years of coming to the United States as an immigrant teenager he acquired his first business, Park-it Market. A few years later he added The Plantation restaurant to his businesses. From there John had an international import/export business, and then introduced Rockford to indoor golf with Golf America sports bar. John then transitioned to a casino host in Las Vegas, marketing to the Asian community overseas. Simultaneously in the 1960s and 70s, John introduced Tae Kwon Do karate to Rockford and surrounding areas, initially training law enforcement, and then operating several different Tae Kwon Do schools around the Rockford and southern Wisconsin areas. He achieved the rank of 6th Degree Black Belt in the International Tae Kwon Do Federation.

John achieved his life’s goal and helped extend the American Dream to his family, sponsoring and bringing his mother and two youngest brothers to the United States in the 1970s. Later his older brother and sister would come to the USA with many of their family members. Ultimately, there are now 4 generations of John’s Korean family in the United States as American citizens with numerous businesses owners, employers and various degrees of professionals and home makers contributing and living the American Dream. He was extremely proud of all his family and their accomplishments.

John “did it his way”.

He was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Machesney Park for the last 20 years. His biggest passion in life was playing golf with his friends and family.

John is loved and missed by his children, Jon (Tina) Rudolph, Roger Rudolph, Michael (Stephani) Rudolph, Brent Rudolph and Monetta Rudolph; 8 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; one sister and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his biological parents Bong Chu and Young Bun Jun, adoptive parents Emery and Lois Rudolph, daughter Kelly Rudolph and many siblings.

The family is planning a small intimate grave-site service, foregoing a large formal service. They recognize John was blessed with countless friends and acquaintances and encourage them to remember and celebrate John and his relationship with them in a way most meaningful to them.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to United Network For Organ Sharing. https://www.justgiving.com/unitednetworkfororgansharing