Burton John Rutz

Burton John Rutz, 95, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Services are pending at a later date.

Burt was born October 28, 1926, in Manning, Iowa, to Friedrich and Rosa (Wenzel) Rutz. He graduated from Manning High School in 1944. After graduation, he enlisted in the Navy V-12 College Training program and was honorably discharged in 1945.

He attended Iowa State College where he met and married his beloved wife, E. Lorraine "Pat" Becker at Memorial Lutheran Church, Ames, on October 16, 1948. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1949 with a degree in accounting. After graduation they moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he worked for Continental Can. In 1950, they moved to Cedar Rapids where he worked for Barnard & Leas Mfg. as the accountant/comptroller until the business closed. He then started Benton Parts, building man-lift parts until his retirement.

With his superb craftsmanship, skilled carpentry, and Burt's and Pat's design, he built their two homes assisted by his family. He loved history, sunsets, flowers, and pets Mattie and Roxie. His story telling, humor, kindness and generosity will be greatly missed.

Burt was a man of great faith and a member at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Atkins, Iowa.

He is survived by his children Nicolette, Mark, Lynn, and Heather; grandchildren Alexis, John, Alexander, and Anastasia; and great-grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his wife, parents, and siblings Harold, Margery Mintle, and Amos.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Central Lutheran School, Newhall, Iowa, in his honor.



Burton Rutz WWII


Harold Rutz WWII


Amos Rutz WWII

Amos Rutz July 7, 1945, at Kandy, Ceylon


Amos Rutz with his sister, Margery


Margery (Rutz) Mintle with her son, Mike


Fred & Rosa (Wenzel) Rutz with Harold & Margery

Back: Harold, Fred, Margery, Burton
Front: Amos, Rosa


Doris Rutz, Amos Rutz, Margery Rutz


Harold Rutz with his wife, Norma, June 1944


1965 Fred & Roza (Wenzel) Rutz


1960 Fred & Roza (Wenzel) Rutz


Amos Rutz in Kandy, Ceylon December 1944


Harold Rutz


Amos Rutz next to the Legion Hall in Manning, Memorial Day 1952


Amos Rutz or possibly Harold Rutz at unknown parade


Susan Rutz with her grandfather Fred Rutz 1961


Harold Rutz, Rosa Rutz


Rosa Rutz in her garden, with Steve Rutz 1952


V-Mail from Amos Rutz to Harold Rutz (V-mail stands for "Victory")
also the index and middle finger V, later co-opted as the Peace Sign in the 1960s.


Jack Ramsey, Bill Ramsey, Amos Rutz who married Doris Ramsey


Amos Rutz wearing his Camp Dodge T-shirt

Amos Rutz


Identified as Franklin Rutz - but don't know if there was a Frank/lin Rutz

Harold Rutz

1940 Ninth and Junior High

Back: Ken Jensen, Robert Lake, Harold Juels, Donald Nickum, Don Mohr
Third: Howard Schumann, James "Bud" Schrum, Sam Wiese, Don Neal, Leroy Joens
Second: Coach Edward Lynn, Amos Lohmeier, Frank Miller, Lyle Schrum, Jimmy Ansorge, Lawrence Nickum, Donald “Bonnie” Joens
Front: Clark Hershman, Bob McGrath, Donald Scanlan, Elmer Buschman, Burton Rutz, Vincent Lyden

Carroll County Junior High Champions
Defeated Coon rapids 32 - 17 to win tourney

Coon Valley Tournament
Defeated Scranton 29 - 12 to win tourney

Harlan Tournament
Defeated Denison 35 - 27 to win tourney

Council Bluffs Tournament
Defeated Iowa School for the Deaf 36 - 24 to win tourney

At Manning Bullpups defeated Iowa School for the Deaf I.S.D 26 - 12

Top: Don Neal, Norma Nissen, Harvey Kienast, Donna Pahde, Helen Hansen, Eleanor Sutherland, Agatha Stangl, James Schrum, Lois Weinbrandt, Sam Wiese
Third: Gerald Schroeder, Lila Ranniger, Burton Rutz, Valdean Larson, Bill Steneker (sponsor), Jeanette Weiskircher, Allan Grage, Betty Bauer, Marie Meister
Second: Myna Nissen, Joyce Bingham, Clifford Hacker, Ellen Coleman, Vincent Lyden, Jr., Lyle Joens, Edna Dammann, Clarence Lamp, Hilda Buschman
First: Audrey Cramer, LaNora Dethlefsen, Betty Ehrichs, Rita Nissen, Shirley Ehrichs, Leora Grau, Ruth Hammer, Carl Petersen, Jr.
Bottom: Ray Schrum, Lucille Wegner, Kenneth Jensen, Alys Thompson, Verna Kroeger, Shirley Peters, Dale Mohr, Beverly Peters, Harold Petersen

School notes

1944 MHS graduates: Betty Lou Bauer, Joyce Bingham, Hilda Buschman, Ellen Coleman, Audrey Cramer, Edna Mae Dammann, LeNora Dethlefsen, Betty Lou Ehrichs, Shirley Ehrichs, Allan Grage, Leora Grau, Clifford Hacker, Ruth Hammer, Helen Hansen, Kenneth Jensen, Lyle Joens, Harvey Kienast, Verna Kroeger, Clarence Lamp, Valdean Larsen, Vincent Lyden, Marie Meister, Dale Mohr, Donald Neal, Myna Nissen, Norma Nissen, Rita Nissen, Donna Pahde (salutatorian), Beverly Peters, Shirley Peters, Carl Petersen, Harold Petersen, Lila Ranniger, Burton Rutz, Gerald Schroeder, James Schrum, Ray Schrum, Eleanor Sutherland (valedictorian), Agatha Stangl, Alys Thompson, Lois Weinbrandt, Jeanette Weiskircher, Lucille Wegner, Sam Wiese

1944 former students: Glenn Anthony, Olivia Bueltel, Jerome Callender, Norman Ehlers, Robert Free, Patricia Fritz, Merlin Fuss, Lester Hargens, Ralph Hargens, Donald Joens, LeRoy Joens, Naomi Joens, Harold Juels, Arthur Kuhn, Evans Kuhn, Robert Lake, Elverda Lamp, Mary Lippold, Amos Lohmeier, Raymond Lohmeier, Shirley Moeller, Donald Nickum, Lawrence Nickum, Mae Ann Ostermeyer, S. John Rapp, Jr., Franklin Rice, Betty Jane Schieffer, Merlin Sievers, Bernard Soppe, Beverly Stevens, Berdene Stoelk, Harvey Thomsen, Kenneth Weinhart


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