Jerry Gordon Rutledge

With great sadness, we share that our beloved husband, father, and friend Jerry G. Rutledge passed from this life and into the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. After a horrendous fall he had surgery for a brain bleed culminating in several serious complications causing his passing peacefully in the early morning of January 9, 2025.

Jerry was an extraordinary person who led an extraordinary life. He was born August 1. 1944 to Wynne and Bill Rutledge in Moberly, Missouri. He went through school and graduated from Moberly High School where he played football, basketball, and ran track. His summers and free time were spent on family farms on his beloved John Deere tractor, it was in his blood and till his end-of-life he loved being on the ranch happily on his John Deere.

He graduated from the University of Colorado which became a huge part of his life. He loved the University, football, basketball, and his fraternity where he met many who became lifelong friends. He was the ultimate Buff supporter and fan. It was in Boulder where he became friends with and worked for Joe Bourland’s Regiment men’s clothing store. He and Joe, who was his mentor, opened a Regiment in Colorado Springs which became his life work.

After buying out Joe he changed the store’s name to Rutledge’s. As the store grew, he bought the Perkins and Shearer building where it remains today selling top-of-the line and custom clothing, boots, and shoes.

He became a respected entrepreneur and businessman. Jerry continued his love of the University of Colorado and became a regent of that school with includes UCCS, CU Denver, and UCHealth. He was a part of the Board that made many positive changes among them moving the University of Colorado Hospital to Aurora where it is a renowned institution. He also served on the UCHealth board for 8 years.

Jerry was on several other boards and a member of several clubs over the years where he met many friends playing tennis and socializing,

solving problems, and enjoying life. All his friends would agree he didn’t have customers who didn’t become friends. He loved life and enjoyed it to the fullest. Those who were close to him knew the many people young and old whose lives he made better in different ways.

Jerry was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and definitely a man of God. He was predeceased by his parents and brother Will Rutledge, survived by his wife Jan and son John as well as several family members who were loved by him. Jerry is also survived by so many beloved, treasured friends too many to mention but like family.

He will be missed but remembered as a wonderful husband, father, and the kind, hard-working, generous gentleman that he was.

The family would like to thank Encompass Health for the staff’s kindness and care in Jerry’s last days. We are so thankful for them.

We are accepting any donations to Jerry’s memory to the Jerry Rutledge University of Colorado Football Scholarship.

Checks in the name of the “Jerry Rutledge University of Colorado Football Scholarship” may be mailed to: CU Buff Club, 2150 Stadium Dr, Boulder CO, 80309

Services will be held on January 24th at 11:30AM at: First Presbyterian Church, 219 E Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903