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.
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
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