Anthony Al John Rutzen

The life and times of Anthony John Rutzen began in Chicago, Illinois where he was born at Lying-in Hospital at the University of Chicago, on March 23, 1935. Anthony was the second born son of Walter and Anna. His childhood was spent on the Southeast Side of Chicago, where he attended CVS High School, joining the Air Force at the age seventeen and earning his GED through courses he took while enlisted. This desire to improve himself through education continued throughout his life, having attended Texas Western College in El Paso, Texas (now known as UTEP), studying electrical engineering.

In 1955, while on leave to attend his brother’s wedding, he met the love of his life, Joan, who lived next door to his brother’s new bride. They entered a very erratic courtship as Al, (the name he chose for himself), was back and forth from his duty station in Texas. However, on July 7, 1956, they drove to Brooklyn, New York, where they were married in an apartment in the Bronx by his best man’s minister, Antonio Contreras, a Lutheran Minister. After three days at Fort Dix, NJ, AL was sent to England for a tour of duty that lasted three years. His wife was to sail to England to join him that September. These were fruitful years for Joan and Al as they were to be blessed with two bouncing boys, Tony and Steve. They returned to the USA in July on 1959, first visiting home (Chicago) and then driving to Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo, New Mexico where they were to be stationed. This also proved to be an exciting time as two more sons were born in New Mexico, Mark and Jim. While all this was taking place on the baby front, Al was busy being a crew chief on bombers for the U.S. Air Force, a job which he enjoyed very much. Nevertheless, Al always had a desire to be in the electrical engineering field and after nine years of good service, he was honorably discharged from the Air Force. At that time (March 1962) Al and Joan moved to El Paso, Texas where he attended college. Al’s brother John and his wife Mildred lived in El Paso and many enjoyable times were spent there with them.

In 1965, after completing three years towards his degree in electrical engineering, the family moved back to Chicago. Al began to work at the Stewart-Warner Company to provide for his growing family. They moved into a house in Evergreen Park, Illinois, where they lived until May of 1967 when they moved into their first home in Alsip, Illinois. Many enjoyable years were spent in Alsip while raising four sons and their added little blessing, their bonus son, George, was born in January of 1971.

Eventually, Al was able to join the electrical union and worked for a printing company for several years. In the early 1980’s, he began working at the Chicago Sun-Times until his retirement in 2001. He retired to Mesa, Arizona with his wife who had obtained a job with the then America West airline. He took to retirement like a fish takes to water, enjoying the beautiful Arizona sunshine and golf courses.

Anthony (Al) Rutzen, 75, of Mesa, Arizona passed away May 12, 2010. He worked as an electrician for 40 years and was employed with the Chicago Sun Times for 19 years. Al belonged to the Moraine Valley Church in Palos Heights, IL and the First Baptist Church in Tempe, AZ. He is survived by his wife of 53 years Joan; his sons Tony (Deborah), Stephen (Luann), Mark (Linda), Jim (Clara) and George (Amy); brother John Rutzen; 18 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Memorial Services will be held Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 1:00pm at the Moraine Valley Church, 6300 W. 127th Street, Palos Heights, IL. Arrangements under the direction of Carr-Tenney Mortuary, Tempe, AZ.