Margaret J. Rutz

GARNER - Margaret J. Rutz, 96, of Renville, MN, formerly of Garner, IA, died Saturday (November 6, 2010) at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 P.M., Sunday, November 14th at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E. 4th St., Garner with Pastor Brian Lund of Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church officiating. Burial will be in Concord Township Cemetery in Garner.

Visitation will be held from 10:30 A.M. until service time Sunday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel with the family present from 10:30 A.M. until 11:45 A.M.

No flowers preferred.

Margaret Josephine Rutz, the daughter of William and Reka (Goll) Haberkamp, was born November 16, 1913 on a farm south of Garner. She was baptized and confirmed at Peace Reformed Church. Margaret graduated from Garner High School after receiving her Normal Training Teaching Certificate. She taught in the rural schools of Hancock County for several years. On June 2, 1938 she was married to Lionel R. Rutz at the Peace Reformed parsonage south of Garner. They farmed in the Garner-Ventura area and in 1956 moved to Renville, MN and continued farming. In 1963, they moved to Des Moines, in 1973 to Waukee and in 1984 returned to Garner. After Lionel passed away in 1986, she continued to live in Garner until moving to Renville, MN to be near her daughter, Carol Bakker. She enjoyed spending time with her family, quilting, embroidering, gardening and reading.

She was a member of Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner , Zion Women's Fellowship and the Ventura Garden Club.

Margaret is survived by her two children, Dick Rutz of Waukee and Carol (Dave) Bakker of Renville, MN; eight grandchildren, Steve (Andrea) Bakker, Sid (Tammy) Bakker, Tom Bakker (fiancee, Amy Kulberg), Tracey (Jerry) Jackson , Troy Bakker, Daniel (Lisa) Rutz, Allan (Andrea) Rutz and Beth (Michael) McFee ; and seventeen great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lionel; daughter-in-law, Marilyn Rutz; four sisters; and a brother.