Arthur Rutz, 90
Born: July 19, 1921
Died: June 28, 2012

Arthur M. Rutz, 90, of Vandalia, formerly of Stevensville, died Thursday, June 28, 2012, at his residence.  He was born July 19, 1921, in Benton Harbor to Otto and Amelia (Krieger) Rutz. He married Betty Ruth Blankner on Sept. 13, 1942, in Benton Harbor. She survives.
Arthur served in the U.S. Army during World War II.  He was a member of the Fruitbelt Woodcarvers Club, the Fruitbelt Barbershoppers Chapter of the S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A.

He was an artist who liked creating something new out of something old.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Mildred Kuehl, Marie Krohn, Ruth Rutz; and two brothers, Walter Rutz and Chester Rutz.

Arthur will be missed by family and friends.  He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Ruth and Paul Rath, of Omaha, Neb.; his son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Kathie Rutz, of Cleveland, Tenn.; four grandchildren, Sandra (Jason) Setzer, of Knoxville, Tenn., Ivette (Chuck) Margraves, of Houghton, Michael (Carol) Rutz, of Kalamazoo, Mario Rutz, of Knoxville, Tenn.; five great-grandchildren, Ryan and Grace Rutz, Ian Setzer and Cristina and Charlie Margraves; and one brother, Robert Rutz, of Coldwater.
Family and friends gathered Monday, July 2, from 4 until 8 p.m. in Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 N. Broadway St., Cassopolis. Funeral services were Tuesday, July 3, at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home.

Mr. Rutz was accorded full military honors by active members of the U.S. Army, assisted by the combined Honor Guard of the William E. Lozier VFW Post 10704 and Efton James American Legion Post 206, Cassopolis.  Mr. Rutz was laid to rest in North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma.

The family prefers memorial contributions to Borgess Visiting Nurse and Hospice, 348 N. Burdick St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007; or, Cass County Council on Aging, P.O. Box 5, Cassopolis, MI 49031-0005.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis.
Online condolences may be posted at wagnercares.com.