RUDY KUTSCH, was born near Stirling, Alberta on July 7, 1929 to Maria (Jochum) Kutsch and Rudolf Kutsch. Born two months after his parents emigrated from Germany to Canada, he was the youngest of three children: Thea, Otto, and Rudy. When Rudy was two years old, his parents purchased land one mile west of Glenwood, Alberta where they started their farm and built a small home. Rudy learned the value of hard work at a young age working with farm animals and in the fields. He attended school in Glenwood until Grade 9 and later attended a farm mechanics program at SAIT in Calgary. Rudy had an amazing ability to understand how things worked and became good at building things and fixing machinery and equipment.
In his early twenties, Rudy began trucking in addition to farming, and trucked throughout Alberta for seventeen years, hauling gravel, asphalt, and fertilizer. His recreation included hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and taking scenic drives, and he loved the mountains. He also had fun attending dances in Waterton. Rudy remained living at home to help and support his mother up until his marriage.
In 1969, Rudy married Vernene Archibald in the Cardston Alberta Temple. He stopped trucking shortly after their marriage so he could be home with his family, and he purchased and rented additional land to farm. He was proud of the quality of his crops. Between 1970 and 1978 Rudy and Vernene were blessed with five children: Darren, Devon, Alita, Kenny, and Gary. They built their home on the farm west of Glenwood in 1980.
Snowmobiling, camping, travelling, boating, waterskiing, and canoeing were some of the activities Rudy shared with his family. He also enjoyed spending time at the log cabin they built at Wasa Lake, B.C. Growing a vegetable garden, especially potatoes and corn, was rewarding for him. Rudy loved to read anything and everything. His voracious reading habit contributed to his lifelong learning and was a source of great pleasure for him. Rudy appreciated the comfort of sitting in front of a warm fire that he had built in the woodstove. He was a wonderful supporter of his grandchildren’s sporting and musical endeavors.
Rudy served as mayor of Glenwood from 1974-1977, as well as serving in the Glenwood Ward bishopric with Bishop Winston Bohne from 1971-1979. During the 1980’s Rudy worked with many others to create Spring Glen Park, located on the Belly River between Glenwood and Hill Spring. Rudy and Vernene served two missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: first in the South Dakota, Rapid City Mission (2000-2002) and second at Martin’s Cove Mormon Handcart Historic Sites Mission in Wyoming (2003).
Throughout his life Rudy took pleasure in travelling to various parts of the world. A highlight of his travels occurred in 2019 at age 90 when he and Vernene, accompanied by their daughter and grandson, travelled to Germany, France, England, and Scotland. In Germany he thoroughly enjoyed spending time with both sides of his extended family and visiting one last time the homes and villages where his parents were born and raised.
Rudy was grateful to his Heavenly Father for the blessings of good health, mobility, and a clear and active mind, which he kept until his last breath. He spent his final day on earth in Glenwood, where he took Vernene on a scenic drive, attended church, visited at home with family, read, and enjoyed eating the apple pie his granddaughter made for him. Rudy passed away peacefully that night at age 92 in Cardston, Alberta on November 8, 2021.
To summarize his life in words written by his cousins from Germany, “Rudy was granted the grace to live a self-determined and fulfilled life until the end. His family has lost a wonderful, warm, intelligent, and also very loving man, father and grandfather. His humorous and sometimes mischievous manner made him unforgettable. He lived his life the way he wanted until the last day, strongly connected to his faith and family.”
Rudy is survived by his wife, Vernene Archibald Kutsch; their children Darren, Devon (Julie), Alita (Doug) Pitcher, Kenneth (Kansis), and Gary (Holly), as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Friends may meet the Family at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Glenwood, Alberta on Friday, November 12th, from 9:45 to 10:15 a.m.
A Private Family Service will be held on Friday, November 12th, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Interment in the Glenwood Cemetery.
In his early twenties, Rudy began trucking in addition to farming, and trucked throughout Alberta for seventeen years, hauling gravel, asphalt, and fertilizer. His recreation included hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and taking scenic drives, and he loved the mountains. He also had fun attending dances in Waterton. Rudy remained living at home to help and support his mother up until his marriage.
In 1969, Rudy married Vernene Archibald in the Cardston Alberta Temple. He stopped trucking shortly after their marriage so he could be home with his family, and he purchased and rented additional land to farm. He was proud of the quality of his crops. Between 1970 and 1978 Rudy and Vernene were blessed with five children: Darren, Devon, Alita, Kenny, and Gary. They built their home on the farm west of Glenwood in 1980.
Snowmobiling, camping, travelling, boating, waterskiing, and canoeing were some of the activities Rudy shared with his family. He also enjoyed spending time at the log cabin they built at Wasa Lake, B.C. Growing a vegetable garden, especially potatoes and corn, was rewarding for him. Rudy loved to read anything and everything. His voracious reading habit contributed to his lifelong learning and was a source of great pleasure for him. Rudy appreciated the comfort of sitting in front of a warm fire that he had built in the woodstove. He was a wonderful supporter of his grandchildren’s sporting and musical endeavors.
Rudy served as mayor of Glenwood from 1974-1977, as well as serving in the Glenwood Ward bishopric with Bishop Winston Bohne from 1971-1979. During the 1980’s Rudy worked with many others to create Spring Glen Park, located on the Belly River between Glenwood and Hill Spring. Rudy and Vernene served two missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: first in the South Dakota, Rapid City Mission (2000-2002) and second at Martin’s Cove Mormon Handcart Historic Sites Mission in Wyoming (2003).
Throughout his life Rudy took pleasure in travelling to various parts of the world. A highlight of his travels occurred in 2019 at age 90 when he and Vernene, accompanied by their daughter and grandson, travelled to Germany, France, England, and Scotland. In Germany he thoroughly enjoyed spending time with both sides of his extended family and visiting one last time the homes and villages where his parents were born and raised.
Rudy was grateful to his Heavenly Father for the blessings of good health, mobility, and a clear and active mind, which he kept until his last breath. He spent his final day on earth in Glenwood, where he took Vernene on a scenic drive, attended church, visited at home with family, read, and enjoyed eating the apple pie his granddaughter made for him. Rudy passed away peacefully that night at age 92 in Cardston, Alberta on November 8, 2021.
To summarize his life in words written by his cousins from Germany, “Rudy was granted the grace to live a self-determined and fulfilled life until the end. His family has lost a wonderful, warm, intelligent, and also very loving man, father and grandfather. His humorous and sometimes mischievous manner made him unforgettable. He lived his life the way he wanted until the last day, strongly connected to his faith and family.”
Rudy is survived by his wife, Vernene Archibald Kutsch; their children Darren, Devon (Julie), Alita (Doug) Pitcher, Kenneth (Kansis), and Gary (Holly), as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Friends may meet the Family at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Glenwood, Alberta on Friday, November 12th, from 9:45 to 10:15 a.m.
A Private Family Service will be held on Friday, November 12th, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Interment in the Glenwood Cemetery.