JoAnn Rutter

JoAnn (Meyer) Rutter lived an incredible life, pursuing her zest for life and blazing trails every step of the way. A self-proclaimed foodie, lover of travel and the arts, she passed away peacefully on 5/24/2024 at home at the age of 89, surrounded by her family. A loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, she will be terribly missed, leaving a void that cannot be filled. However, her legacy will live on in all who loved her.
JoAnn was born in Grey Eagle, Minnesota to Anton and Ann Meyer, among 7 children. She graduated as the valedictorian from Grey Eagle High School and went on to graduate from St. Cloud Business College. At 20 years old, JoAnn moved from Minneapolis, MN to Los Angeles, CA in search of adventure. On a whim, she tried out for the Los Angeles Police Department and was one of 10 women who made it. She served as a police officer from 1957 to 1966, achieved markswoman status, received accommodation during the Watts riots, and was promoted to public affairs officer.
During her time in Los Angeles, she met and married Joseph Rutter. They were married for 25 years and remained good friends until his death at age 79.
In 1966, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska to start a family and a construction business. She was a devoted mother to her 3 children, a great cook who loved to experiment in the kitchen, and she loved to host friends and family for dinner parties with creative themes that are still family legends.
In 1977, they left Alaska, first moving to Soquel, CA, and then to Auburn, CA, where she lived for close to 45 years. She obtained her real estate license, working at DRW and Bast Real Estate, where she loved helping people find their dream homes. Later, she became an eligibility worker for Placer County, where she retired and continued her service part-time until she was 75 years young.
JoAnn was never one to sit on her hands; she always got involved, from Toastmasters club president to coordinating trips to Reno and Sacramento theater events, being an active member of the Auburn ARTS counsel, organizing venues for the Auburn Art Walk, being a member of St. Joseph's and St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church to serving as a past president of the Retired Persons of Placer County. She loved her community, friends, and family, and always made sure to keep everyone informed about local events.
JoAnn is survived by her children Jennifer (James) of Loomis, CA; Joe Rutter Jr. of Lincoln, CA; Doug Rutter of Lynchburg, VA; granddaughters Allison Cartright of Auburn, CA; Jocelyn Cartright of Visalia, CA; Jamie (Corey) Johnson of Visalia, CA; and Erin (Jordan) Russell of Henderson, NV; five great-grandchildren; and three generations of nieces and nephews, who will never forget the love she brought to their lives.
She was preceded in death by her parents, infant sister Cyrilla, brothers Tony and Denis Meyer, sisters Dorothy Slimmer, Rosemary Kalkman, and Rita Meyer, and nieces Sandi Meyer, Dawn Slimmer, and Ann Kalkman Fox.
A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on August 2, 2024, at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Auburn, CA with reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Gathering Inn-Mid Placer are appreciated.
Please sign JoAnn's online guestbook at Legacy.com