Ronald '' Ron'' Joseph Kutz Obituary (1928

Ronald ''Ron'' Joseph Kutz Captain Ronald J. Kutz Kingston, Washington. Our husband, dad, brother, uncle, grandpa and great grandpa, passed away peacefully on July 9, 2002, at the age of 74, in Seattle, Washington due to severe complications related to an accident on June 12, 2002. Ron was born February 2, 1928, to John A. and Helen V. Kutz in Seattle, Washington. He attended grade school in Seattle and Bainbridge Island, and in 1938 the family moved permanently to their summer home at Port Madison on Bainbridge Island where Ron attended Bainbridge High School and graduated in 1947. On Bainbridge Island he met his future wife, Marilyn Heinisch, and on January 15, 1948 they married and loved each other until his death. In 1998 we celebrated their 50-year wedding anniversary with the family and friends in Indianola, Washington. Ron and Marilyn raised their three children on Bainbridge Island until 1962 when they moved to Juneau, Alaska, where Ron took a Masters position with the Alaska State Ferries. During their time in Juneau they built two beautiful homes and made hundreds of new Alaskan friends and co-workers on the ships. Some of their best memories are in Juneau, and in 1975 they moved to Kingston, WA to prepare for retirement in their waterfront home on the shores of Puget Sound. They loved boating and owned a trawler for 20 years which made several trips to Alaska. They now have a Bayliner in the fleet of Kingston Cove Yacht Club and are very active with the club. Ron loved to travel, golf, and work on projects around his new home in Kingston and their winter snow bird home in Gold Canyon, Arizona. Ron was also a 35 year member of the BPOE # 420 of Juneau, Alaska. Growing up in Port Madison with his 3 brothers and an sister, Ron developed a love for the water. He spent summers during the war years working on tugs and ferries in the Puget Sound. During high school he joined the U.S. Merchant Marine and sailed overseas in Victory ships and freighters. when he married in 1948, he went to work locally for Black Ball Transport. When several Black Ball vessels were sold to the new Washington State Ferries in the early fifties, he transitioned there as a Mate. He worked his way up to Master on the ferries and served on all the early boats, including a stint as a Captain of the SAN MATEO, the worlds only steam ferry. At one time he was the youngest Captain in the entire Washington State Ferries fleet. In 1962 when the State of Alaska formed the Alaska Marine Highway with the three new ferry liners, Ron applied for and was appointed to a position of Master on the brand new 352 ft. ship, M/V TAKU. He was the Captain of the TAKU for several years until he was reassigned as Captain of the the M/V WICKERSHAM. He was Captain of the WICKERSHAM on its maiden voyage from Sweden to Juneau, Alaska, after it was purchased from the Swedish Stena Lines. He fondly served as Master of the beautiful WICKERSHAM for its entire service in the Southeast Alaska. In 1974 he took command of the M/V Columbia, newly built in Seattle. The COLUMBIA was the third time he was a Plankowner, and served as Master on that ship until his retirement in 1987. After he retired from the Ferries, he worked several summers piloting the big cruise ships throughout Southeast Alaska. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Marilyn J. Kutz; son, David J Kutz, and wife Janice, of Kingston, Washington; daughters, Patricia ''Patti'' E. Stoll, and husband James ''Jim'', of Poulsbo, Washington and Kerilee R. Vester, and husband Barry, of Covington, Washington. Also grandchildren, Denise Kutz Bettge, and husband Derek; Cindee Kutz Jones, and husband Chad; Aaron Stoll, Megan Stoll, Joshua Vester, and Carly Vester, and three great grandchildren, Andrew, Henry and Jenna. Surviving also is sister, Shirlee Clementz, and husband Ben, of Port Ludlow, Washington; brothers Jack Kutz, of Bainbridge Island, Washington; Alan Kutz, and wife Marilyn, of Kingston, Washington; and Robert Kutz, and wife Helen, of Federal Way, Washington, and several cousins, neices, nephews. His mother and father preceeded him in death. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 19, 2002, at the Stone Chapel, 22272 Foss Road, NE. Poulsbo, Washington. A gathering of friends and family will be held at 1300 (1:00 PM) at the Kingston Cove Yacht Club on the water front in Kingston. The family has requested donations be made to the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society, P.O. Box 9731, Seattle, Washington 98109-9731, Tele: 206-624-3028