Rose M. Kuter

Rose M. Kuter, “forever 29”, passed away peacefully in the
early morning of August 29, 2014 in Fond
du Lac, WI. 

Rose was born in Thompson Falls,
MT, the daughter of Roger and Alice (Davis) Fitzwilliams.  She moved with her mother and sister Lillian
to Wisconsin at the age of 3, and resided in
Omro and Oshkosh before coming to Fond du Lac.  

Rose graduated from Fond du Lac
Senior High School and later attended Marian College.  She began her working career at the Wisconsin
State Employment Service in Fond du
Lac as a receptionist and clerical supervisor.  It was there that she met the love of her
life, David M. Kuter.  They were married
on August 6, 1943 in Fond du Lac at the Division Street
Methodist Church,
prior to David’s deployment to Africa and Europe
with the US Army in WWII.  Rose was a
stunning bride.   

Rose and David had 3 loving children, David John (Reading MA), James Howard
(Silver Lake, WI),
and Barbara Jean (Collegeville,
PA).  The couple instilled in each child a sense of
independence, patriotism, civic involvement, and respect for others.  The family traveled the US in their
camper, visiting all lower 48 states by the time the children were 12.  Rose was always involved in the lives of her
children, acting as both a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader, attending many
baseball games and tennis matches, and helping with homework and art projects.  She was a lifelong member of Division Street
Methodist Church
and taught Sunday School there for many years.

Rose started working at the Taycheedah Correctional
Institute as a business education teacher in 1959 so that her children would be
able to afford college.  She later initiated
the first computer training program and assumed all responsibilities for computer
education at the Institute.  Rose worked
at the Institute until she retired in 1983. 
She was highly respected by the staff and her students for her
compassion, determination, spunk, high standards, and love of teaching.    

Rose was an avid reader and loved to read to her small children.
She would often stay up half the night reading novels and grading her students’
papers.  She was quite the “green thumb”
and was always happy gardening both indoors and outdoors.  She filled her later years at home taking care
of many beautiful cacti and house plants.  
She loved animals and cherished her many dogs and cats over the years
(Blackie, Runt and Dummy, and Tom and Jerry, to name a few).  Rose had a weakness for shopping, pottery,
and desserts. 

After Rose and David retired in 1983, they had a delightful
time traveling, including trips to Ireland,
Canada, Hawaii, and many of the US National Parks.   They also enjoyed frequent visits to their
children, far-flung family, and friends. 
Both were active in the American Legion at the local and state level.  Rose served as the 6^th District Auxiliary
President and both the President and Chaplain of the Fond du Lac Auxiliary.  Rose was a strong believer in the power of
education and was instrumental in establishing the Auxiliary’s Educational
Scholarship Program.  As the Chair of the
Education and Scholarship Committee, she had the pleasure of awarding many
scholarships to local teens.  Rose was
the Secretary of the Fond du Lac Paquette House
(an organization that helps institutionalized individuals make the transition into
society) and a member and Past President of the Kiwanianne Club of Fond du Lac.  She also enjoyed helping her husband build or
renovate and sell several homes in the Fond
du Lac area.

In her later years, Rose was a member of the Fond du Lac Aquatic Center,
where she enjoyed water aerobics and many lively lunch time discussions with her
dear friends, Jean Smith, Jeanne Colla, and Faith Beck. 

Rose’s family was her pride and joy.  She always enjoyed recounting the activities
of her children and grandchildren. 
Special memories include her 50^th wedding anniversary
celebration with husband David and immediate family in Green Lake and Cable,
WI; holding her newborn grandchildren in her arms; a trip to Washington, D.C. with
family for the inauguration of the World War II Memorial; and more recently,
yearly adventures to celebrate her birthday with her daughter (including trips
to Zion and Bryce National Parks, the Grand Canyon, CA wine country, and Bermuda).   

Rose will be missed by family and friends for her wit, kindness,
determination, Irish temper, strength under adversity, love of life, striking white
hair, rosey personality, beautiful smile and laugh, and unconditional love.  Her wonderful scalloped potatoes and ham with
mustard sauce will also be sorely missed at family get-togethers.

Rose is survived by her son, David; daughter, Barbara; daughter-in-law,
Irene Kuter; son-in-law, Paul Koser; two beloved grandchildren, Emily and Ben
Kuter; three loving nieces, Debra Fenno (Fond du Lac), Janette Van De Mark (Carl
Junction, MO), and Anita Trone (Fernley, NV); and dear friends, Maureen
Brickle, Laurie Kitzrow, Gail Gauger, Rose Schneider, and Linda Graf.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, David; son,
Jim, who loved her dearly; her wonderful sister Lillian; and her parents.

Zacherl Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.  Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on
Tuesday, Sept 2, 2014 at the Funeral Home. 
Visitation at Covenant United Methodist
Church, Fond du Lac, will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday,
Sept 3, 2014 followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m.  Burial will follow at Rienzi Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Fond du Lac Habitat for Humanity, the Fond du Lac Humane Society, or the American
Heart Association.

May all our sad tears be washed away with the precious
memories of the sweetest and most beautiful Rose there ever was.