Who is Rudy from Drowning Ruth and what is their importance?

Rudy is the Starkey family's hired man for decades, Rudy helps Amanda deal with her brother-in-law, Carl Neumann, when he returns from World War I gravely injured. Rudy keeps the farm afloat financially. He finds Amanda's precise planning amusing and joins her for the day's big meal at noon. Earlier he disapproves of Amanda, Mathilda, and Ruth moving to the island, but is easily manipulated to see Amanda's point of view. He feels guilty for not grabbing Ruth off the island, to force Amanda and Mathilda back to the farm, as that would have spared all of their lives. Late in the novel, too old for farm work, Rudy marries and moves into town.