Jack "Dee" I. Rutzen

In loving memory of Jack Irving “Dee” Rutzen, who took his life on July 18, 2023, at age 16 in Heber City, Utah. Born on December 28, 2006, in Baltimore, Maryland, Jack was the beloved first child of Allan and Heidi Rutzen, oldest brother of Will and Max Rutzen. 

In his early years as a very young child, Jack loved all things vehicles – his first word was “wheel!” He enjoyed stroller walks in the city where an abundance of working trucks and construction equipment were always on display. Jack loved visiting his maternal grandparents on their farm because Grandpa had quite the inventory of farm equipment for Jack to sit and climb on. 

As Jack reached preschool age, he attended Temple Isaiah Preschool in Fulton, Maryland, and then elementary school at Clarksville Elementary in Clarksville, Maryland. During these years, Jack developed a passion for Legos and began his path in scouting. Jack’s favorite element of scouting was when it was time to craft his Pinewood Derby Car with his dad. He designed and crafted the most amazing cars, and they were always among the top-placing cars in the race – most years winning the race. Not only were Jack’s cars fast, but they were also a visual masterpiece. Jack spent meticulous hours sanding and painting his cars to give them the most perfect finish – a finish that no one could believe was painted by a child. Jack also began his music career in elementary school, beginning with viola and then trombone. One of Jack’s favorite activities was his annual New Year’s Eve sleepover at his Grandpa David’s house where they would make yummy food, talk about their shared interests, and stay up late to watch the ball drop. 

Jack went on to attend Clarksville Middle School in Clarksville, Maryland. He advanced to Boy Scouts and loved doing the troop outings – attending just about every weekend camping trip, summer camp, and day event. Jack continued playing trombone for the Clarksville Middle School Band and felt proud of his improving skills. During this time, Jack started developing an intense love for exotic cars and rally car racing. He studied the book How to Drive: The Ultimate Guide, from the Man Who Was the Stig by Ben Collins like it was his bible. From the teachings of this book, at age 13, Jack could apply his practical driving skills with Grandpa on the farm field with some high-speed drifting. 

The transition from the middle school years to high school became a difficult time for Jack. We were so blessed to have an incredible support network of family and professionals that allowed us to find a healing place for Jack in Utah. For his 9th and 10th grade years, Jack attended Daniels Academy – a therapeutic boarding school for neurodiverse kids who need help with emotional regulation, life skills, and social skills, all in a specialized academic environment. At Daniels, Jack was able to discover and explore new interests in guitar, keyboarding, electronic music creation, games like Magic the Gathering and Warhammer, exotic bug collections, and all the natural beauty of Utah. 

Jack had the most rich and loving life. We will always hold our unique, amazing, and passionate child close to our hearts forever and ever. 

Donations in honor of Jack "Dee" can be made by check to Daniels Academy, PO BOX 451, Heber City, UT 84032

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