HONOREES:
John Rutt
BRANCH:
Air Force
GAME:
Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
The Green Bay Packers and WPS Health Solutions had the honor of saluting John Rutt and his family during the Packers-Bears game for Operation Fan Mail.
John, a Sterling, Ill., native, was drafted into the Air Force division of the U.S. Army in 1943. After completing gunnery school in Las Vegas, he was assigned as a belly gunner for the B-17 Flying Fortress and eventually served as staff sergeant and training specialist at Camp Atterbury in Edinburg, Ind., until 1946.
Following his military service, John returned to his job as an office assistant in the mail room for Frantz Manufacturing and spent his career working his way up to vice president and member of the board of directors for the company, retiring in 1985.
At age 96, John still enjoys traveling regularly and watching the Packers. The only Packers game he ever attended in person was a matchup with the Chicago Bears at Wrigley Field in 1956, quarterback Bart Starr’s first year with the team.
John attended the game with his daughters, Nancy Morgan and Patricia Aldrich, as well as grandsons, Tim and Eric Aldrich. He also has one other daughter, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
