Kenneth Rutka Obituary

Merry Christmas Dad sitting at the firehouse on probably what will be my last Christmas ever working as a fireman ,retirement is around the corner... Well Dad just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and I miss you and I love you... your son Philip

Philip glad you were at your father grave for his birthday .love you Mary

It was your birthday yesterday kenny I know you´ll be out fishing with your dad and friends. Love you and miss you

Happy Birthday Dad you would have been 75 today. Sitting at your grave site missing you dad. I just sang you happy birthday... everyone really misses you up here and all over.. till I see you again Dad happy birthday.. love your son Philip

Hey Dad how's it going ,,today 6 years ago at 9:32 am my life changed forever you passed away . Right now as we speak I am sitting in your chair in your kitchen in the house that you called home for 20 years A lot of stuff is changed since you left us .I'm still a fireman Jocelyn lives in Tennessee, I'm married now ,a lot of stuff is changed in 6 years but all for the better. Kenny is even retiring next year I'm so proud of him and you would be too ..Your cabin is finally fully remodeled the way you wanted it ,well even the shoreline got done this year. Lot of Tears were shed missing you ..Dad I will let you go, I love you. I will keep on writing your message here as long as I can Until we see each other again,, love your son Philip

What I would say to my cousin is that I love him and miss him. We had a lot of fun together

Happy Father's Day dad, i really miss you.. Just got back from Hayward after our yearly trip in June, in May I was up there for 3 weeks and I redid the whole shoreline. Your cabin is looking absolutely beautiful. I know you could see it.. Well, dad, happy father's day and I love and miss you ,your son, philip

Merry Christmas, dad. Miss you and love you more than you know.... Philip

The first memory Kenny has always been in my life we are cousins. He was always their to listen to me and never judge my heart hurts when I think about you Kenny love Mary

Can't believe it's been 5 years dad. Your boys spent the week together at the cabin. We really miss u BAD.. We did alot of work. Jocelyn is living In tennessee. She will be here for hunting. Well dad we are here and we all miss u. love Your Boys

Can't believe it's been 4 years dad. I miss u everyday. I hope you love what we have done with the cabin. everyone is doing fine. Jocelyn is in college now she even got a tattoo right after her 18th birthday in memory of you... We really miss u bad. Well till we see each other again. Love u

It is over 2 years since he passed away. He was my cousin and was always there for me. I loved him very much. I'll miss you Kenny

Two years gone. Miss you Moe. This one will hurt for a long time,but I'm at peace knowing your in heaven and at peace watching over your pride and joy. Your sons. Philip, followed in your footsteps as a fireman. Kenny Jr. followed you into the military and is a decorated Officer. When things get tough for your boys, I know they still look to you for guidance and I know you still guide them brother....

Well pops it has been a whole year since U been gone. A lot of tears have been shed. A lot of lonely days missing your voice. I hope you like what I've done with the cabin it's been a lot of work but not compared to what you did to it. I know that you were there with me in the beginning even playing a couple tricks on me lol.. Me Kenny and Jocelyn miss u greatly. She shot her own dear last year by herself and she was so proud ,were going up again next week. Well I will let you go and again I hope you love what I did with the cabin and I hope you love the sign that I had made up. Because I tell everyone that cabin and view was truly " Moes Dream ". Love u and miss u

One year later, still thinking about Kenny. The Northwoods has a hugh void with him not there. R.I.P
Kenny.

Thank you to all who knew my Dad, added an entry, attended the wake or the funeral in Hayward, WI. My Dad had a great group of friends from Wisconsin, Chicago and even a few that he met way back in Vietnam. He was a noble Soldier, fearless fireman, avid hunter/fisherman and a friend to many. I, like many, will miss him dearly. -Ken Jr.

Dad I want to say thank you for being a hardworking dad and a great role model to me, Kenny and Jocelyn.... I want to thank you for being there through the good times in the badtimes. Thank you for being a great grandfather to jocelyn . Taking her hunting for the 1st time and getting a deer with her and taking her fishing and atving. Your circle of friends is larger than anyone could ever imagine deep down through that thick skin you have a huge heart. You will never be forgotten. Dad I love you and until we see each other again.. I will continue your legacy..Love your son Philip

Met "Moe" 30 years ago at the Kateri Lodge. You could say we liked each other right off. Through the years we went fishing, ATV'ing and looking for Elk and deer and going out to eat. Kenny once talked me into hauling two 70 lb. bags of corn out to one of his "deer stands". He was a good natured man and was always joking. Kenny was a one of a kind individual and the Northwood's will never be the same without him. I will miss him greatly and will be fishing this fall on Lower Twin Lake in honor of him. RIP Kenny. We love you bro.

Kenny and I met over 40 years ago on the volunteer fire department. He was always laughing and and having a good time. He was very proud of his two sons and always talked about them and what they were doing. I recently found a video where he had played Santa for my daughters when they were very young, where he couldn't remember any of the reindeer besides Rudolph, so he referred to them as "the rest of his partners". :) This prompted a call to Kenny to reminisce and we laughed together again. I knew when we would visit, that he would always make me laugh. He was truly one of a kind and his humor is something I will miss.

It's heartbreaking to always lose someone special. But I could only imagine that God honored Uncle Kenny's wishs by letting him pass in his favorite place in a peaceful way. And I'm sure he is looking down at us with Chris, Auntie Gerri, and Auntie Lori by his side. So very sorry for your lost to all of the Rutka & Pikul family.

"At ease soldier" was what Ken would say to greet me. He was former Army and I was former Navy. He triggered a lot of laughs at the Northwoods Fitness Center here in town. He also supplied some great tasting home-made chicken soup on some of the coldest days of winter. He loved to listen to rock and roll music and often times would say: "Mike, remember this hit from the past?" He usually came to the club later in the afternoon so after he worked out, we would watch the latest news. He was on the same page as I was on several topics. He is leaving a void in the club that will never be filled. Overall, when I think of knowing him, I have to smile and laugh and I am grateful I knew him.
So to you Ken I say, "At ease, Soldier." We will not forget you. Sincere condolences to his family from all of us here at the club. Mike McCusker and staff.

You have my deepest sympathy. May the God of loyal love comfort the family during your time of sorrow. Psalms 119:7

I worked with Kenny on Truck 29 CFD. He truly was a great fireman! We became good friends at the time, I had a lot of fun with him! I was with him when he got injured on the job, and the job was never the same after he left. But, we always stayed in touch... always playing "catch up" on our lives. Kenny was truly one of a kind... RIP Beachball.

My sincere condolences to the Rutka family for your loss. May the many memories comfort you in the coming days and future.

My condo.emces to the Rutka family. I was friends with Ken Jr through grammar and high school. Mr. Rutka always treated me well. He liked to joke and I will always remember the nickname he gave me. Rest In Peace, you will be missed.

My sincere condolences to the Rutka family. Ken was a student in my drafting classes at Kennedy High School. I remember him as a hard-working young man.

D. Wiberg, Faculty Retired JFK High School

My deepest sympathies to the family. You can find comfort in knowing, our Heavenly Father has promised we will see our love ones again (Acts 21:15).

Prayers to the family. Kenny was the life of the party. Thanks for the memories.

Please accept my sincerest condolences for your loss. I hope that words such those found at John 6:40 bring you comfort at this difficult time. CR

Great friend who will be dearly missed. Lost my grooming partner, my deer scouting chauffeur and Hayward Power Sports personal chef.

My condolences to the Rutka family. Rest in peace Kenny. You and your Hayward family always made us feel like we were a part of it.

Kenny you will be missed. My condolences to your family

Ken made fast friends with everyone he met. He will be dearly missed by so many here at the Fitness Center and all around Hayward, and beyond for that matter, from Chicago to Hawaii. He was family. He was a big tough teddy bear, and we all loved him. He was always thinking of others, even when he may have been hurting, it didn't stop him from bringing in his homemade chicken noodle soup, or venison sausage. If you were his friend, consider yourself lucky, he would do anything at the drop of a hat for you, and we all know that. He had a heart of gold. He shared what he had. The greatest gift- his friendship, and laughter. Always trying to lift the mood of others around him. Rest in peace my friend, I will miss you much.

Great sense of humor; fun to be around. He enjoyed what he did. May God rest his soul.

Death is the last chapter in time but the first chapter in eternity. Rest In Peace Cousin

Spent a great 5 days with Moe last week. We put over 400 miles on his new CanAm. Saw a couple bears, a wolf, listened to the loons on the lake and shared lots of laughs. He was one-of-a-kind and we will miss him very much. He will always be in our hearts and will never be forgotten.