Obituary of Ruth Dutzi

Ruth (Lease) Dutzi died on September 22, 2023.

She was born on February 28, 1937, to David H. and Frieda Lease in Madison, Wisconsin; she has been a resident of Colorado Springs since 1959. In 1964, she married Howard C. Dutzi, who precedes her in death.

Ruth earned her B.S. Degree at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, her M.S. Degree at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and her D.Ed. from Nova-Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

She retired from Colorado Springs School District 11 in 1993. During the thirty-four years she was employed with the District, she held the positions of teacher, dean of students, assistant principal, and principal. She was assistant principal at Irving Junior High School and principal at Mann Junior High School and Holmes Junior High School. She was also a part time instructor at UCCS and the University of Phoenix where she taught graduate students in the field of education. 

She was an active member of First Lutheran Church since 1964; many friendships were developed with the Sunrise Walkers through their weekly meetings for hiking and Bible study.

She was interested in traveling, hiking, camping, skiing, golf, photography, and reading. She and her husband traveled to six continents. Among Ruth’s favorite trips were those to Greece, Israel, Egypt, China, India, Tunisia, and Cambodia. Very special trips were her six visits to Africa where she enjoyed safaris in Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, and Botswana, as well as traveling in Ethiopia. Her African travel also took her to several west Africa countries. She had the unique experiences of hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain, hiking to Machu Picchu in Peru, hiking the Highlands of Scotland, the Cinque Terre in Italy, the Loire Valley in France, and the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia. Her favorite area of travel in the US was the Southwest, especially Canyonlands National Park and Hovenweep National Monument.

She is survived by her nephews, James P. (Trish Nahn) Lease, Joe T. ( Sandy Lochner) Lease, John D. (Mary) Lease, Robert K. (Laura) Dutzi of Palatine, IL, Michael P. (Zoe) McMahon of Boerne, TX, and Timothy P. (Jennifer) McMahon of Westminster, CO; her nieces, Elizabeth (Jason) Starzec of Round Lake, IL, and Colleen (Nick) Miczek of Chicago, IL; and her sister-in-law, Jean (Patrick) McMahon of St. Charles, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents, David H. and Frieda Lease; her husband, Howard C. Dutzi; her brothers, James D. Lease of Oregon, WI, and Paul R. Lease of Cottonwood, AZ; her sister, LaWanna (Lease) Blount of Como, MS; her brother-in-law, Robert G. Dutzi, and sister-in-law Christine Dutzi, both of Buffalo Grove, IL; and her sister-in-law, Mary Jo Lease of Oregon, WI.

Memorial Service, 1:00PM, Thursday, October 12, 2023, First Lutheran Church, 1515 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907