Constance "Connie" Rutz

Constance “Connie” Rutz passed away on Tuesday, November 28th, 2017, at the age of 56, just 19 days after her cancer diagnosis, with family by her side.

She was born in La Crosse to Robert and Harriet (Kaiser) Johnson on Easter Sunday, April 2, 1961. She married Bruce Neas in April of 1983. They together had two children, Robert and Kimberly. He preceded her in death in 1989. She then married Robert Rutz on Valentine's Day, 1992. Together, they had one son, Michael.

Connie was employed by Viterbo University and then La Crosse footwear before staying home with her children and doing in-home daycare. She enjoyed dancing, being with family and friends, cracking jokes, watching Wheel of Fortune, and cheering for the Green Bay Packers. She loved her family, especially her little grandchildren, more than life itself. She found comfort in knowing that we will all meet again.

Connie is survived by her husband, Bob; children, Robbie Neas, Kim (Eric) Walker, Mike Rutz (Hadley Lafold), and honorary daughter, Amanda Laube; and her grandchildren, Kailey, Elijah and Easton Walker. She is further survived by her sister, Cindy Folcey (Greg Juan); sisters-in-law, Carol (Junior) Rybold, Theresa (Tim) Thaldorf; brother-in-law, Dennis (Ann) Rutz; nieces and nephews, Jan (Renee) Weber, Thad Gehrke, Jason Folcey (Paul Peters); and one great nephew, Parker Gehrke; and also by numerous other close family and friends.

Connie was preceded in death by both parents, Bob Johnson and Harriet Nicol; step-father, Charles Nicol; maternal and paternal grandparents; sister, Vicky Walters; nephew, Kurt Walters; brother-in-law, James Folcey; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Eileen and Michael Rutz; brother-in-law, Gary Arentz; plus many more. I'm sure they are having one heck of a party up there!

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, December 2 ^nd , at First Ev. Lutheran Church in La Crosse. Pastor Richard Pamperin will officiate. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday at the church.

The family would like to thank all the staff on 7th floor of Mayo Heath Care System for taking excellent care of Connie from the time of her diagnosis to the time of her death.

"Loved you then, love you now. Always have, always will"

Until we meet again Con, Mama and Grandma!