Obituary of Edwin John Rutter

Edwin J. Rutter, 91, of Benton Harbor, passed away peacefully at home on January 24, 2022. He was born on April 2, 1930, in the town he’d spend most of his life in, Benton Harbor, Michigan. Kind, hardworking, smart, and charismatic are all words used to describe the life of Ed. He was a man that lived a long meaningful life. Born to the late Warren and Olive (Bishop) Rutter during the early 30’s had many challenges but just as many well learned lessons for Edwin. He grew up with four other brothers, he was the third of the six in total. Being the middle child meant fighting for the most attention, keeping the peace between the older and younger siblings, and not quite fitting in between the two age groups. As a result of this upbringing, Edwin became one of the funniest, mischievous, guys you’d ever meet. He was known to be excellent with kids because he never quite grew out of being a kid in the first place. He served his time in the military and was a proud veteran, but what he took the most pride in was putting smiles on his grandkids’ faces. He was always a very service-oriented kind of guy, anything he could do for someone he wouldn’t question twice before making it happen. After his time in the Navy, Edwin started worked for Sears for 27 years as a service technician. He had a steady job with a family to take care of. He married his best friend and life partner, Peggy Louise Renfro, on February 15, 1958, in Benton Harbor. Their union brought them two daughters, Christine and Carol. From then on, he did what he had to do to make sure he had a happy family. When his girls were young, he started them on all of the outdoors things that were special to him; dirt bikes, four-wheelers, hunting, and fishing. Some of their most special outdoorsy memories were made in Bitley, Michigan, where there were plenty of days by the water, and nights sitting around a warm fire. Ed lived a meaningful life and did his best to set a great example of what it meant to be a man. He will be missed by many friends, family, and loved ones. Edwin is preceded in death by his parents, Warren and Olive (Bishop) Rutter; four of his siblings, Warren (Katie), Walt (Bonnie), Lyle (Lucy), and Linsay (Joanne) Rutter; as well as many friends and extended family members. He is survived by loving wife, Peggy Louise Rutter; his two daughters, Christine (Terry) Stockton, and Carol (John) Fairbanks; his last surviving siblings, Mark (Tracy) Rutter; his five grandchildren, Crystal (Billy) Wolgensinger, Kaycee (Jeff) Billhimer, Johnny Fairbanks Jr., Edwin Fairbanks, and Bobby Fairbanks; twelve great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren, all of whom he was able to meet and spend time with. The family will be honoring Edwin’s life in private at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services.