Official Obituary of
Idella Julia Rutschow
April 7, 1916 ~ April 19, 2014 (age 98) 98 Years Old
Idella Rutschow Obituary
Idella J. Rutschow
Idella Julia Rutschow (98) of Mondovi, WI passed away peacefully Saturday, April 19, 2014 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems (Luther Hospital) in Eau Claire, WI. She was born April 7, 1916 in the Town of Lincoln, Buffalo County, WI; daughter of Reinhold and Elsie (Kaste) Wendt. In 1928 the family moved to a farm in Mondovi, WI. Idella attended and graduated from Mondovi High School in 1933. Following high school she attended the Eau Claire Teacher's College and taught in rural one room schools.
On June 1, 1939 she married Melvin Rutschow. They farmed in Mondovi until 1967 when they moved to the city. Melvin died of a heart attack in 1969. In 1965 she received her B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and taught for 16 years in the Mondovi School Systems, many of those years in Modena. She retired in 1981 having taught 25 years in Wisconsin schools.
She was a member of Our Saviors United Methodist Church. She was very involved with the United Methodist Women, taught Sunday school, and held several positions on the church board. She was politically active in the Democratic Party, Buffalo County Famers Union, Eau Claire Area Retired Educators Association, Mondovi Area Historical Society and the Mondovi Senior Citizen Club. Idella enjoyed cooking, sewing, playing cards, playing games, writing and drawing. She loved traveling, having traveled to almost all the states and made several trips to Europe. She enjoyed spending time with all her grand children and great-grand children, whom she loved dearly.
She is survived by her children, Carl (Judy) Rutschow of Upland, CA, Michael (Linda) Rutschow of Mondovi, WI, Jeanette Rutschow of Madison, WI, Dale (Jennifer) Rutschow of Colorado Springs, CO; six grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; sister, Lucille Wik Helm of Mondovi, WI and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Rutschow; sisters, Lillian George, Doris Horton; all her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m Thursday, April 24, 2014 at Our Saviors United Methodist Church in Mondovi, WI with Pastor Dale Engen officiating. Burial will be at the Oak Park Cemetery in Mondovi, WI. Friends may call Wednesday, from 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm at Kjentvet-Smith Funeral Home in Mondovi and one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Memorials may be given in her name to Our Savior United Methodist Church in Mondovi. To express condolences on-line visit obituaries at www.kjentvet-smithfuneralhome.com
465 W. Main St.
Mondovi, WI 54755
Mondovi, WI
Idella Julia Rutschow (98) of Mondovi, WI passed away peacefully Saturday, April 19, 2014 at Mayo Clinic Health Systems (Luther Hospital) in Eau Claire, WI. She was born April 7, 1916 in the Town of Lincoln, Buffalo County, WI; daughter of Reinhold and Elsie (Kaste) Wendt. In 1928 the family moved to a farm in Mondovi, WI. Idella attended and graduated from Mondovi High School in 1933. Following high school she attended the Eau Claire Teacher's College and taught in rural one room schools.
On June 1, 1939 she married Melvin Rutschow. They farmed in Mondovi until 1967 when they moved to the city. Melvin died of a heart attack in 1969. In 1965 she received her B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and taught for 16 years in the Mondovi School Systems, many of those years in Modena. She retired in 1981 having taught 25 years in Wisconsin schools.
She was a member of Our Saviors United Methodist Church. She was very involved with the United Methodist Women, taught Sunday school, and held several positions on the church board. She was politically active in the Democratic Party, Buffalo County Famers Union, Eau Claire Area Retired Educators Association, Mondovi Area Historical Society and the Mondovi Senior Citizen Club. Idella enjoyed cooking, sewing, playing cards, playing games, writing and drawing. She loved traveling, having traveled to almost all the states and made several trips to Europe. She enjoyed spending time with all her grand children and great-grand children, whom she loved dearly.
She is survived by her children, Carl (Judy) Rutschow of Upland, CA, Michael (Linda) Rutschow of Mondovi, WI, Jeanette Rutschow of Madison, WI, Dale (Jennifer) Rutschow of Colorado Springs, CO; six grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; sister, Lucille Wik Helm of Mondovi, WI and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Rutschow; sisters, Lillian George, Doris Horton; all her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m Thursday, April 24, 2014 at Our Saviors United Methodist Church in Mondovi, WI with Pastor Dale Engen officiating. Burial will be at the Oak Park Cemetery in Mondovi, WI. Friends may call Wednesday, from 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm at Kjentvet-Smith Funeral Home in Mondovi and one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Memorials may be given in her name to Our Savior United Methodist Church in Mondovi. To express condolences on-line visit obituaries at www.kjentvet-smithfuneralhome.com
Visitation
APR 23. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (CDT)
Kjentvet-Smith Funeral Home - Mondovi465 W. Main St.
Mondovi, WI 54755
Funeral Services
APR 24. 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM (CDT)
Our Savior's Methodist ChurchMondovi, WI
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