TORRINGTON – Funeral services for Harold R. Rutz, 92, will be 10 a.m. Thursday, June 1, 2017 at the First Congregational Church with the Rev. Matt Gordon officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the Valley View Cemetery.
Harold died May 24, 2017, at Life Care Center in Greeley, Colo. Memorials may be given to the First Congregational Church. Visitation will be 4 to 6 p.m. today (Wednesday) at Colyer Funeral Home. The casket will be open prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends may send condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com.
Harold was born Sept. 22, 1924, in Windsor, Colo., the son of John and Elizabeth (Wiedeman) Rutz. He spent most of his younger years on farms in the Windsor area prior to moving with his family to Wheatland in 1937.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946, receiving his training at Ft. Hood, Texas. He served with the 94th Infantry Division in the European Theater. Following his discharge he returned to Wheatland and married Lydia Weber on Aug. 18, 1946.
He worked as a mechanic for five years for the Ford Motor Company in Wheatland. He started farming in 1951 in the Wheatland area before moving his family to Torrington, where he continued to farm until retiring in 1986. Lydia passed away in 2004.
Harold was a very hard-working man who was well loved by all who knew him. He served as a board member for the North Platte Soil Conservation District for 13 years, was a member of the First Congregational Church, where he served on various committees, and was a life member of the VFW.
Harold is survived by daughters Diana Rutz of Gillette and Donna Rutz of Carson City, Nev.; a son Dennis (Dana) Rutz of Greeley, Colo.; five grandchildren, Shawn Watson, Karl Pickett, Elly Henning, Danielle Rutz and Darren Rutz; and three great-grandsons. He is also survived by brother LeRoy (Helen) Rutz of Wheatland; sister Beverly Hitt of Bryan, Texas; aunts Emmelene Rutz and Irene Rutz of Greeley; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
His parents and his wife, Lydia, preceded him in death.
