Obituary of Ralph Henry Rutz

Ralph Henry Rutz, age 77, died on November 4, 2016, in Plymouth, Minn. Ralph was born on August 30, 1939, in Morristown, Minn., the elder son of Elmer G. and Elsa (nee Schwichtenberg) Rutz. He graduated from Waterville High School in 1957, and from Mankato State College in 1961 with a B.S. in industrial arts. He added an M.S. from Mankato State in 1976. Ralph taught industrial arts and coached wrestling in the Delavan, New London-Spicer, and St. Peter public school districts, all in Minnesota. After a long career, he retired from teaching and began farming fulltime in rural Rice Co. Among his interests were ham radio, automotive mechanics, tutoring, and playing the accordion. In his younger years, he traveled worldwide and enjoyed hunting and fishing. Ralph’s final years were spent in a memory care unit in Plymouth, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his brother Roland (Carol) of Northfield, nephews Paul (Whitney) of Portland, Ore., and Karl of Faribault, a grandniece (Elsa), of Portland, Ore., many cousins and other relatives. A memorial service will be held at First UCC Northfield (300 Union St, Northfield, Minn.) on Friday, November 18, at 10:30 a.m. A lunch at the church will follow. Memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., or the donor’s choice.