Robert Frank Rutherford (Bob), age 84, passed away peacefully on October 31, 2020.     

Bob was born on September 30, 1936 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Robertus and Margaret Rutherford.  He had two sisters, Doris Bonta and Shirley Harmon.  He quit school in the 8th grade to go to work to help pay the bills.  He told stories about how he would pick rocks for farmers with payment being a bag of potatoes or some sort of food to take home to his family.  He would do any odd jobs that came available.  He loved to play music and would play music with his father who played the fiddle, and his sister who played the pedal steel guitar.  He also loved to ride horses.  One favorite story he shared was riding a horse that wouldn’t stop and headed right to the barn.  Unfortunately, he didn’t duck when the horse entered, and he ended up going off backwards and received two black eyes.     

He met Anita through friends of his sisters and was united in marriage to Anita Sommers in Indiana.  He was married to Anita for 38 years until she lost her battle with cancer.  They had three daughters together from this union, Leanna, Rebecca and Christine.  He worked at Permanent Magnets as a honer for 13 years.  In 1970 they moved to Wisconsin where he loved to fish, hunt, play music and bowl.  He worked many odd jobs until he found employment at McNally Industries where he continued to work for 19 years.   

He also loved to play music.  He was in many bands and music was a big part of his life.  His talents in music were passed down to his children who joined him and Anita playing music in nursing homes and many bookings for weddings and birthday parties.   

After Anita passed away he eventually met Cindy Smith and was married November 21, 1999.  From this union he gained four step-children, Bruce, Stanley, Jesse and Heather.  He was married to Cindy for 19 years.  While with Cindy he began reading the Bible and turned his life to God and started a new journey of his life.  He enjoyed gardening and canning with Cindy, but most of all he enjoyed reading the Bible and learning and reciting Bible verses.   

We would like to thank everyone for your support, kind words, hugs and warm wishes and a very special thanks to his Hospice, Christina his nurse, and Tracie his aide for the care they gave him and the family.  They gave him quality of life his last four months and made his final journey comfortable and peaceful.

Preceding Bob in death are his parents; wife, Anita Rutherford; wife, Cindy Rutherford; daughter, Leanna; and sisters, Doris and Shirley.

Bob is survived by his children, Becky (Scott) Lohman, Christine (Brian) Erickson, Bruce (Chrystina) Smith, Stanley (Amanda) Smith, Jesse (Christy) Smith, Heather Swager, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  

Visitation open to the public will be held at the Rowe Funeral Home in Frederic on Friday, November 6th from 9 to 11:00 a.m.  At 11:00 a.m. the funeral home will be closed for a private family service.

Arrangements are entrusted to Rowe Funeral Home.

Last Update: Nov 03, 2020 6:15 am CST