Northern Michigan Mourns the Loss of Beloved Local 'Dynamite the

All of northern Michigan is mourning today as they have learned of the passing of a local legend.

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Rudy Grahek, aka Dynamite the Clown, passed away this week after a long-fought health battle.

Northern Michigan's Own 'Dynamite the Clown'

Grahek, 92, a Korean War veteran, had been delighting communities throughout Michigan, but mostly northern Michigan, for over six decades.

He was a fixture in parades across the region and also hosted the Fox Kids Club for 9&10 News for much of the 1990s.

In 2023, the communities that he served and entertained for so long came together to help him when he suffered a hip injury and needed to have a ramp installed at his home. The community helped raise nearly $14,000 to help Rudy through his health issues.

Sadly, multiple sources report that Rudy aka "Dynamite" passed away on Sunday, February 2.

'Dynamite the Clown' Remembered By Northern Michigan

Many across northern Michigan have been posting remembrances of Rudy. The Northern District Fair out of Cadillac said in a Facebook post,

Rudy’s legacy will live on in every laugh shared under the fairgrounds’ sky and in every memory made by those who had the privilege to know him. His kindness, creativity, and unwavering spirit made our community brighter, and his absence will be deeply felt. - Northern District Fair

Rudy Grahek Remembered by Northern Michigan

Sure, he may have been best known as 'Dynamite', but Rudy Grahek was a legend in and of himself.

Grahek served in the Korean War after being drafted and was discharged in 1954. When he returned, he attended Ferris State University (then known as Ferris Institute).

He said in an interview with Ferris State University back in 2021 that working around youth made him "feel younger".