Mark L. Rutkowski

Mark Lewis Rutkowski (COL Ret)

DOB 12/30/1955

DOD 5/3/2024

If you are reading this, then I am dead. I did not expect to go out this soon, but as the saying goes “Man proposes, God disposes.” So instead of a nice comfy retirement, I ended up like this, oh well. As the custom, the obit should cover my life, surviving family and the like, so here it goes.

To my parents’ great surprise, I was the last of four children, conceived only 9 months after my sister was born. I can only imagine how that conversation went. To their great “joy” I arrived  9 months later.

I grew up in a comfortable lower middle-class environment in Mishawaka, under the benign neglect of my parents. No criticism is implied, after two brothers and sister, I guess they wanted to finish up as placidly as possible. So as long as the school didn’t call or the police showed up, I was OK. When they did, a price was paid as when they dropped by to talk to my parents about something I supposedly did (but I was innocent, I swear) on the day of my brother Phil’s wedding when all the family was there. That did not go over well.

I attended St Bavo’s grade school for 7 ¾ years before being expelled. Why they had to kick me out after nearly 8 years and only few weeks left is beyond me. Anyway, I had to finish up at Emmons and this C/D student and became an honor student there. Just shows the quality of a good parochial school education.  I went on to Mishawaka High School and through a concentrated lack of effort on my part, I managed to graduate in the “top two-thirds” of my class – as the Army recruiter credited me. Studying was hard in the face of disinterest.

After graduation, I got the talk from my dad (get a job, go to school or join the Army). Since I doubted any college would take me and I did not want a minimum wage job, the Army was my preference. I had in fact already talked with them. So, I went in 2 weeks after graduation and something clicked as I did not leave the Army for 37.5 years, retiring as a full Colonel. I also worked as an Army civilian for 5 more years before retiring.

I graduated with a BA degree from Purdue with the highest honors (paying for your own education focuses the intellect) and later earned a MA degree from Purdue and another from the US Army War College. “Knowledge is good” to quote Emil Faber. The Army provided me an opportunity for FTA -Fun, Travel and Adventure- as the wags used to say.

My parents, Matt and Marjorie “Jean” Clapp preceded me in going to the big poker game in the sky after long and good lives, and I missed them greatly when they passed. I am, however, survived by two gear head brothers, Dave “Once a Marine always a Marine”, and Philip “I am the poor forgotten middle child” Rutkowski. I am also survived by my sister, Lynn Schult, who I have the utmost respect for, who raised two great kids, homeschooling them while working a minimum wage job before becoming a true “woman of steel” (an iron worker). Bob, her husband who has the strangest sense of humor I ever saw, played a large role as well. Hats off to you.

My greatest success and joy was eloping with my wife Pam (Pallatin) in July 1975. It was supposed to be a secret, but I left the marriage license on my dresser at home with I returned to my first duty station, Berlin Germany. So much for OPSEC. She has been with me through good times and bad for 49 years. I owe much of what success I had in life to her. I love her deeply and beyond measure. I also leave a son, Nathan Daniel, so named so he would have ND as his initials. He is studying to be a Marine Biologist. A good son, and a pleasure to be around, unless he was your euchre partner.

As a person who enjoyed a good laugh (why I was known as the smiling colonel) and had a deep interest in travel, military and Roman history and ND football. One of my most enjoyable trips was to Rome to see the sights of antiquity. Unfortunately, a case of Mussolini’s revenge forced me to experience Rome from the inside of the bathroom.

I have many things undone: books unread and places unseen but I am thankful for what I did accomplish. To everyone I would emphasize to not waste time, never put off what you can do today for you don’t know what tomorrow holds.

Special thanks to Cathy, David and Julie who provided wonderful companionship and care, and Southern Care Hospice for their compassionate services.

PS. Mark wrote his own obituary, and if you knew Mark, his sense of humor was one of his biggest assets.

A celebration of life will be held later.

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