Donald was first and foremost a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was a United States Navy veteran. He retired from the logistics and procurement department at Boeing, after 32 years. Donald loved playing Pinochle with his grandkids, boating, camping, and keeping his yard perfect. He also had an appreciation for classic cars. Donald especially loved to travel, with his wife, to visit all his kids’ and grandkids’ colleges and universities around the United States. He was an avid sports fan of baseball or whichever sport his grandkids were playing at the time. In his youth, he was also a member of the St. Clair Greater County league baseball team.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony and Irene M., nee Behrmann, Rutter; two brothers, Norman Rutter and Henry “Harry” Rutter; and a sister-in-law, Helen Heintz.
Surviving are his loving wife of 65 years, Shirley Mae Rutter, nee Heintz, whom he married on May 30, 1958; three children, Barb J. (Enrico) Bertucci, Roslyn M. (Shawn) Corcoran, and Kenneth S. (Dia) Rutter; six grandchildren, Rico (Kristine) Bertucci, Don Antony (Lacey) Bertucci, Robert (Tiffany) Bertucci, Victoria (Dan) Berger, nee Bertucci, Joel Rutter, and Sarah Rutter; two great-grandchildren, Ruby Mae and Mina Rae Bertucci; four sisters-in-law, Marie Rutter, Marie (Larry) Bultman, Jackie (Adrian) Lehde, and Judy (Dave) Fahrner; two brothers-in-law, Jerry Heintz and Kenneth (Jeannie) Heintz; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church or the Belleville Area Humane Society. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, December 10, 2023, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 11, 2023, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 11, 2023, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. Jack McEvilly and Fr. Stan Konieczny concelebrating.
Burial with military honors will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.