Gary Lee Rutledge

Monday, February 13, 2017 7:34 pm

Gary Lee Rutledge was born Sept. 6, 1940, in Iowa City, to William Merlin Rutledge and Helene Amsden Rutledge and died Saturday, Feb. 11, at his home in Decorah.

Gary lived in Elkader with his mom’s mother, Hildegard Amsden, after his eighth grade graduation from Elkport school and graduated from Central High School in Elkader in 1957, when he was 16 years old. Gary attended Upper Iowa College in Fayette and graduated with his teaching degree in 1961, when he was 20 years old. Gary taught junior high and high school mathematics and served as head wrestling coach at North Winneshiek School for many years. Gary was an avid motorcyclist and car enthusiast and enjoyed spending hours in the garage repairing and restoring vehicles. He especially enjoyed riding his Moto Guzzi motorcycle in parades with the Cresco American Legion Riders, providing escorts and flag lines to honor military veterans. He proudly served in honor of his father, a WWII Navy veteran, as well as in honor of many of his close high school friends who died in the Vietnam War.

In keeping with Gary’s wishes, there will be no funeral services.

Gary’s family would like to express a special thank you to Gary’s friends Tom and Garnita Erickson; Lee and Marlene Pierce; and Lonnie and JoAnn Pierce and their families for their friendship and many kindnesses to Gary throughout the years.

Gary is survived by his daughters, Jayme Nelson of Decorah and Jodi Auron of Madison, Wis.; his sister, Julie Moody of Garber; brothers, Terry Rutledge of Manchester and Kent Rutledge of Brunswick, Ga.; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Merlin and Helene Rutledge and by his sister, Jacklyn Jean (Jackie), in 2007.