Arthur R. Rutz, age 92, of West Bend, passed away Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at the Cedar Lake Health and Rehabilitation Center in the town of West Bend.
He was born on June 7, 1918 in New Prospect to the late Charles and Minnie (nee Kranzke) Rutz. Arthur graduated from West Bend High School in the class of 1937. He went on to serve his country honorably in the U.S. Army during World War II as an MP. On July 11, 1945, Arthur was united in marriage to Frances Hinesley at St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church in West Bend. He went on to work for West Bend Transit as a Traffic Manager and Freight Claim Agent until retiring in 1983. Arthur was an active member of St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church in West Bend and had served as the financial secretary as well as on the church council. He was also a member of the V.F.W. Fred A. Schaefer Post #1393. He is survived by his wife, Frances of West Bend; three children, Jeanne (Art) Plansky of Mayville, Roger Rutz of Milwaukee and Suzanne Bickum of West Bend; four grandchildren, Tracey (Tom) Stoffel, Christopher (Jill) Plansky, Julie (Chris) Olson and Jason (Kim) Plansky; seven great-grandchildren; Kirstin, Henry, & Karah Stoffel, Callie, Brady, & Sophie Plansky, and Madelynn Olson; other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Thomas Rutz; sister; Gertrude Lenz and two brothers, Fred (Esther) Rutz and Carl Rutz.
Funeral services in remembrance of Arthur will be held on Saturday, March 5th at 1:30 pm at t. John's Ev. Lutheran Church, 809 S. 6th Avenue, West Bend with Rev. Guy Roberts officiating. Visitation will be at the church on Saturday from 11:30 am until the time of the service. Burial will follow in Washington County Memorial Park.
Memorials to St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church are appreciated by the family.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the following people for their excellent care and kindness, Dr. Smale, the staff at Cedar Community; the girls of Homecare, Bev, Jeanne, Chris, and Terri