Rudolph Salvermoser

Rudolph Salvermoser, age 98, passed away peacefully on November 24, 2022, in New Braunfels, Texas. He was the widower of Janet Salvermoser, with whom he shared 61 years of marriage. Born in Camden, NJ, he was the son of Victoria Salvermoser. He went to Altomuenster, Germany at the age of five to be raised by his grandparents with his aunt and four uncles. He graduated from high school in Freising, Germany in 1941. Afterwards, he entered the German Army where he served on the eastern front as a panzer crew member until he was injured in 1944. At the end of the war, he surrendered to the American troops to avoid being captured by the Russians. In 1948, he returned to the U.S. and enlisted in the American Army. He taught surveying courses at the Army Engineer Topographic School at Fort Belvoir, VA. Subsequently, he was sent to the 29th Engineer Topographic Battalion at Camp Cavite, Philippines, where he served as Chief Topographic Computer and Battalion Operations Sergeant. In 1952, he began his civilian service with the Army Map Service which later became the Defense Mapping Agency Hydrographic/Topographic Center in Washington, DC. He was employed first as a surveyor, then later as a geodesist. During his work as a surveyor, he had overseas tours of duty in Iran, Libya, Ethiopia, the Marshall Islands, Taiwan, Italy, and Greenland. For seven years he was Chief of the Geodetic Survey Squadron at White Sands Missile Range, NM, in support of missile range operations. After retirement from civil service in 1980, he was employed as a physicist at the Physical Science Laboratory, New Mexico State University. Rudi is survived by his daughter, Anna Victoria (Vicki) Coster (Mark), granddaughter Kathleen Coster (Leo Lopez) and brother, Louis Hackstie (Jewell). He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet, his mother, Victoria Hackstie, his son, Thomas Rudolph Salvermoser, his sister Elizabeth Appel, and his brother, Henry Hackstie, Rudi enjoyed singing, yodeling, and gardening. He had faith and trust in God and was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and uncle. Rudi led a long and active life and will be remembered for his kindness and concern for others. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all those who knew him. A memorial service will take place in the Washington, DC area at a later date. His niece, The Rev. Dr. Joan Beilstein, will preside over the service.