I want to thank everyone for all the love and support over the last few day. It means so much to our family to know how many people truly cared for Donny.
Anyone who knows Donny knows that he was always up for an adventure and did some pretty crazy stuff. The fact that he was taken far too soon and by doing a simple job blows my mind and I still can’t believe he’s really gone.
When we were growing up, the four of us were really close and always had so much fun together. WE would play outside with our cousins, ride our bikes, play in the woods and go swimming at the lake. Donny loved making bike ramps in the back yard and doing all kind of tricks on them.  Sundays were always moms day to take a break so the four of us would go somewhere with my dad. We usually had to go check the water at the beach, (I guess to make sure it was still there) and then we would go somewhere in Lyme. 
My greatest memory from when we were kids was wrestling in the living room. Mom would move the coffee table and let us go at it. Donny and I were the biggest, I know that is hard to believe and we would always take Cheryl and Eddie down. 
Donny has had so many friends over the years, but Dylan and Mike are not just his friends they are our brothers. They were childhood friends and even though friends can grow apart they were always there when Donny needed them most.  Out of all of his girlfriends over the years it was Kelsey who truly understood Donny and even though they had their differences I know that she will always have a special place in his heart. Over the last few years Donny has become close friends with Jodi, Josh, Brenda and Shane who are his second family. They had a lot of great times together and we appreciate everything they have done for Donny, now and over the last few years. 


A true fisherman knows when and where the fish are biting
He rises up early in the morning, plying the water for that elusive catch,
waiting in the stillness for a nibble.
A slight twitch in the line, expertly he reels it in.
A good fisherman knows a keeper when he sees one, 
he knows when to toss one back, and when to head for home.

Welcome, My name is Janice Freschlin, I am the Funeral Celebrant as we gather to celebrate the life of Don Rutty. We join our hearts together to support his family- father Don Sr., sisters Michelle & Cheryl and his brother Ed, his aunt Patty, and the joys that were his life, niece Faith and nephews John, Konnor, Arron and Nolan, and close friends that he made family. We are here to pledge to you that we are welcome companions on your journey of grief and will be your ears for stories and shoulders for tears when the travels become too much.
Let us begin our time together by lighting a single candle – with the hope that you can capture some of the warmth of this light and carry it with you in the days ahead when you think of Donny.  
It is an important day when we stop to acknowledge the significance of a life lived and the difference he made every day in this world. You made the effort and took the time to be a part of this sacred space. Words cannot express how meaningful your presence is today and in the days to come will be to each other. 
Today is Donny’s day. He was never happier than when able to give his time to his family and friends and so we make this his most special time, honoring his life, standing in awe at his huge heart and breathing together the sighs of sadness that he is gone and the joyful whispers that he was a part of your life. And we will leave together today knowing how lucky you were for having this man in your world.
We can all agree Donny was a FREE SPIRIT; he dared to live his life on his terms, his way, or the highway.  But throughout his time amongst us, he was able to leave an imprint on everyone here, and so many more people that might not even know it.   He left his footprint on our hearts. 
Donny was born some 32 years ago.  His first imprint was on the hearts of his mom & dad as a beautiful bouncing baby boy.  As any baby, I am sure he looked like an angel.  As a boy, he traded in his angelic ways and quickly earned the nickname “Beastie or Animal”.  
He would leave his footprints in many places – on the ground and in the rivers as he learned to hunt and fish with his dad.  He even left his footprints in the trees, as he would climb trees to high heights that only a monkey would dare of doing.  But it didn’t bother Donny.  The scarier, the better.   
He had the benefit of growing up on Griswold Ave or better known as the “Rutty Compound” where he as surrounded by family – with his aunt’s living on either side and grandma in the back, along with his siblings there were always kids to hang out with, confide in, and I am sure lend a helping hand when it was about to become involved in something shall we say “less that noble”?   
But it was these experiences that helped form Donny into the man that he was.  Loving, family oriented, thoughtful, good-hearted, helpful.  And then there was the other side of his personality; adventuresome, rebel rouser, trouble maker, instigator, dare devil, thrill seeker, live life by the seat of your pants person.  
He was the 50-50 split of these characteristics.  For Donny?  It was the perfect cocktail that made him HIM.  The person you all loved.
Let’s start with the WILD CHILD – these are the memories that will make you cringe, wonder how he made through life in one piece even though – that’s debatable with all the broken bones he endured, he must have had a season pass to the emergency room every year.
You all know this one - Marlboro Red in one hand, Budweiser in the other.  He loved to party – to have a shit kicking good time.   Maybe hanging out at a bar or maybe just by the fire pit.
Where did he end up sleeping? Maybe at Dad’s, maybe at a friend’s house – but no worries, he had plenty of people that would let him crash on their couch.  
When he wasn’t partying, he loved to ride quads, BMX bikes – and taking it to the next level by racing them, and trying dangerous tricks.  Sometimes the tricks wouldn’t go as planned, like trying flip the quad landing it on all four wheels, when instead he landed on his head and broke his collar bone.  
He wasn’t the kind of person who was into sports like baseball or golf – he didn’t play it safe – he was a thrill seeker!  Always looking for that adrenaline rush.  
Donny lived life to the fullest.  He packed a whole lot of living in his lifetime.   Some people can live for 70 years and not experience as much as Donny crammed in 32. 
Maybe you couldn’t call him the sweetest man, but you definitely can call him salt of the earth.
Donny didn’t pretend to be anyone but himself – take it or leave it. This is Donny.   That’s ok – because Donny was a good man.
He had a strong love for family, especially for his niece and four nephews.  He was there when each was a newborn to hold them in his arms.  He was there guardian angel, one to look over them, be their friend, confident and playmate.  He was the Peter Pan of the lost boys.  The leader of the gang.  He participated in annual traditions like pumpkin carving with all the kids.  Hopefully he wasn’t the one using the sharp knife.  And when he was asked to babysit?  Hell Yeah!  Good times all around – but you never knew what you would be coming home to.  He would do anything – EXCEPT change diapers.
Donny was loyal to his family as well as his four legged companion Red.  They were inseparable for many years, even their personalities seemed to match – a tough exterior, but soft loveable inside.  
Donny helped with his family and friends as well as leaving his footprint in the community (as long as it was fun) – every year he would volunteer for the Boy Scouts Dunk Tank.   So raise your hand if you dunked Donny!  Hey it was for a good cause, Right?
And he helped out at the Gun Club with their pig roast.  And received many compliments for a pig well roasted! 
Donny was skilled mason, carpenter, auto mechanic, and tree worker who would use his knowledge to help anyone out.  Whether he knew you for 30 years for only 3 minutes, if you needed him, he would lend you a hand.  He was a good hearted soul. 
At this time I would like to invite his sisters Michelle and Cheryl and his niece Faith to share their thoughts and memories with you.
And now I invite everyone here to share how Donny left his footprint in your life – whether it be a word to describe Donny, or your favorite story – please share it.  

He did indeed leave his footprint on all of your hearts.  At the conclusion of the prayer of committal, I have a special gift for everyone here, a small medallion with his initials on one side and a footprint on the other, tied with a bit of fishing line so you can hang it somewhere special.  
Please bow your heads in prayer.
We meet here under this beautiful blue sky to place Donny in this hallowed ground and to dedicate this space to every beautiful and precious memory associated with him.  It is an age old ritual we perform here, yet a singular experience, for Donny meant so much to you.  We join the universality of death with the uniqueness of human life in this simple ceremony of farewell.
Although Donny’s body may no longer be with us, his spirit lives on in us so long as memory lasts.  “To live in hearts that love, is not to die”.
In committing Donny’s remains to this hallowed ground, we do so with deep reverence - for the body is of a temple during life, of a unique and beloved person.  So we place Donny’s remains in that gentle earth which has been our chief support ever since human beings walked beneath the sun.  To all human beings, to all living forms, the soil has ever provided the sustenance that is the stuff of life.  To that good earth we now give back the remains of our loved one.  Here Donny’s remains will rest in peace.  In days to come we will visit this place to remember him more vividly.
As we leave this place today, we leave in thanksgiving, not regret, for Donny’s life was full while he was among us.  Touched though we have been with sadness, as we consider Donny’s life we are filled with memories, happy and sad.  What he has taught you and how he loved you, can never be taken away from you.  For this we are grateful.
May we go once again into the busyness of our days with renewed faith.  May Donny’s memory remain with us and bless us from this day forth. 
Donny was Salt-of-the-earth and he liked to have his fun. As our time comes to a close, I encourage you to come forward to sprinkle a dash of salt from a familiar bottle to him, over his urn, to remind you to be true to yourself, to keep it real, to know who you are.  


It's been very hard for me to explain what Donny and I were. I feel this quote says it best: "We loved each other with a love that was more than a love "

Donny, 
From sneaking me beers and whipping the quad at the meadow, to chucking empty beer cans at people on the scrambler.
This beers for you, Until next time.

I'm so sorry for your loss








Donnie and Family, I'm so sorry for your loss, there are no words to comfort you in your sorrow You are in my prayers. God bless you.

Donny and family   Our condolences on your loss. Words can not express our sadness we are felling for you and your family. He was/is a great friend and will be missed.

Sorry for your loss. May God give you a peace that surpasses all understanding. Donny had a great heart and took on the burdens of many. He will be greatly missed, may his legacy remain. God bless you.

My condolences to your family Donny, I am so very sorry for your loss,your family will be in my prayers.

My condolences go out to the entire Rutty family. Donny was a great guy, most of my childhood memories have him in them. He was always the one to make you feel better even if he was down himself. He will be forever missed but never forgotten. Hug your mom for me Donny. 
Love you guys
Cait

To the Rutty family,
Words can't express how sorry I am for your loss. Donny was a great person loved by so many. I will miss him but he's with his mom now. Sending you my love and prayers.

To the whole family I send my condolences. I have some good memories with Donny as kids growing up and from school. Apparently God and his mom wanted him home. :( I'm so sorry I can't make it down there but my thoughts prayers and heartache goes out to you all. Eddie and you girls keep your heads up! He will always be with you. God bless you all. Johnny Botts.

We are so very sorry for your loss, are thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Duane & Heidi Palmes

My thoughts are with you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Rutty family. May the Lord watch over all of you and may you all find peace after this terrible tragedy. 

Andy & Diane (Harmon) Gerhart

I'm so sorry for yr loss!! Donnie was a great person and I'm so  glad I got the chance to know him!.my thoughts and prayers are with you all....

Donny will forever be the little "beastie" boy running around in a diaper to me. I send you love and strength

To Big Don and Family, words can't express the heartache, my heart breaks for you all as well with you. Donny was and still is a great man. He will be missed terribly. My deepest condolences to you all.

Don and Family, 
My sincere condolences to you for your loss of Donny.  My heart is heavy for you, and my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Don and family,  my heartfelt condolences on the passing of Donny. He is now in heaven with his mom.

OBITUARY

Donald Samuel Rutty Jr.

November 29, 1983 – May 6, 2016

Fulton-Theroux Funeral Service

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