Grayden Daniel Rutter

Graydon Daniel Rutter, 70, passed away at home with his family by his side Wednesday, January 19th, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on October 28th, 1951, to the late Ralph and Ethel (White) Rutter in Lock Haven, PA. He attended school in Altoona, PA and graduated Altoona Area High School in 1971. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy the same year, where he honorably served as an Aviation Electrician’s Mate and Plane Captain in the HM-12 Detachment-A during the Vietnam War. He was most proud of his involvement in Operation End Sweep, securing the release of POW’s and the removal of mines from Haiphong harbor and other coastal and inland waterways in North Vietnam, earning numerous badges and medals for his service to our country.

Upon his honorable discharge from military service, he worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington D.C. where he met the love of his life, Gail. They moved back to her hometown in WI to start their lives together. He married Gail Wegner on May 1, 1976, at Morrison Zion Lutheran Church in Morrison. Together they had four children. Dan used his military training to work as an electrician for over 35 years, retiring in 2017. His hobbies included reading, scuba diving, antiquing, and collecting miliary memorabilia. He proudly participated in an Old Glory Honor Flight the year he retired, rating it as one of the best days of his life. He also enjoyed connecting with shipmates, attending naval reunions, and traveling with his wife, and being caretaker of his best friend and grand-dog Buster.

He will be deeply missed by his wife of 45 years, Gail; children, Amanda (Jesse) Novitski-Juedes, Alicia (David) Stevenson, and Jackie Theisen (special friend, Karl Guns), and a son Zachary (Brandi) Rutter; grandchildren, Blake, Owen and Braydon Novitski, Hattie Juedes, Tristen Verbeten, Brooke and Brianna Stevenson, Carter and Violet Theisen and Jackson and Matthew Guns; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; Donna Etling, Glen (Gail) Wegner, Debbie (David) Matherly, Ellen (Jeff) Trousil, George (special friend Kathryn Stenson) Wegner, Bernice (Bill) Van Noie, Carol (Kevin) Dowd, and Paul (Tina) Wegner; as well as many other nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Ethel Rutter; parents-in-law, Elroy and Alice Wegner; a son-in-law Jason Novitski; and brother-in-law, Jim Etling.

A private funeral was held. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations to be forwarded to the Old Glory Honor Flight at https://www.oldgloryhonorflight.org/support/financial-support/

The family wishes to extend special thanks to Heartland Hospice for their compassionate care.

Some people wait their whole lives to meet their hero, he was ours.