Adel Rutsch ’64 Fitz

Adeltraut (Rutsch) Fitz, 83, of Eau Claire went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior on April 3, 2024, in St. Joseph surrounded by her beloved family.

Adel was born to Albert and Alma Rutsch on Jan. 2, 1941, in Tarnowka, Germany, (now Poland) and immigrated from Germany to the United States with her parents and younger siblings: Lilli and Arno in 1951.

She was valedictorian of the Class of 1959 in Gackle, N.D., completing high school in three years.

In 1964, she married Hermann Fitz and graduated with a bachelor of arts from Hope College in Holland, Mich., where she had majored in German and earned a teaching certificate.

A teacher at heart, Adel taught both elementary and secondary classes at Benton Harbor Public Schools and was a founding teacher of Grace Christian School. She also taught German at Grace Christian and Southwestern Michigan College. She retired from teaching after leading the young fives classes at Witheral School Child Care, where she accomplished her personal goal of teaching every pupil under her care to read. A faithful member of Oakridge Community Church, Adel also taught Sunday school for more than 40 years.

As a lover of roses, classical music, polkas, bird feeders and Christian romance novels; Adel shared her passions with her family whom she adored. She especially enjoyed caring for her grandchildren: Andrew, Brittany and Caitlin who grew up right next door at the Fitz farm where they kept chickens, farm animals, many barn cats, dogs, fruit trees, flowers and a large vegetable garden.

Adel is survived by Hermann Fitz, her husband of 60 years; sister, Lilli Schwarz and her brother, Arno Rutsch; her children: Reinhard “Reiny” Fitz (Becky), the Rev. Karen Fitz La Barge (Bill), and Lori Brodie (Paul); her grandchildren: Andrew Fitz, Brittany Stallings (Mark), Caitlin Davis (Dennis), Elisa “Vox” La Barge, Madison Brodie and Aiden Brodie; her great-granddaughters: Aria and Gweneth Stallings; as well as many nieces, nephews, in-laws and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her infant son, Gerhard Fitz in 1968, as well as her parents: Albert and Alma Rutsch.