Kathryn Madeline (Staley) RUTHERFORD ZUETLAU

STALEY, RUTHERFORD, ZUETLAU, SCHROEDER, VERNON, HOWELL, SMITH, PENDLETON, DEIMERLY, LYONS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:49

Kathryn Madeline Staley Rutherford Zuetlau
30 January 1921 --- 2 November 1965

Mrs. Kathryn Madeline Zuetlau was born January 30, 1921 to Claude and Maude Staley at Eagle Grove. On May 13, 1935 at the age of 14, following a course of confirmation instruction which was required for membership in the Evangelical Lutheran church, she was baptized in the Triune faith by Pastor T. J. Severtson. She died November 2, 1965 after reaching the age of 44 years, 9 months and 2 days.

In 1937 she married Elmer Clifford Rutherford, Sr. who died in 1946. Until his death, they lived in
Oskaloosa. She returned to Eagle Grove shortly thereafter and in 1948 married Arthur Zuetlau in
Humboldt.

She was preceded in death by Elmer Rutherford Sr. and two children Marilyn Kay Rutherford and Howard Lawence Rutherford. Those who mourn her departure are her parents Mr. and Mrs. Claude Staley of Spokane, Wash.; her children Lloyd Rutherford of Eagle Grove, Mrs. Mary Jane Schroeder of Monticello, Iowa, Elmer Rutherford, serving in the Navy in the Philippines and Cindy Zuetlau of Eagle Grove; six grandchildren, a brother Howard Staley of Spokane; and four sisters, Mrs. June Vernon of San Jose, Calif., Mrs. Esther Howell of Eagle Grove, Mrs. Grace Smith of Eagle Grove and Mrs. Constance Pendleton of Spokane, besides many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held Saturday, November 6 at Kastler Funeral Home with Pastor H. W. Schiller, pastor of Evangelical Lutheran church officiating. Interment followed at Rose Hill cemetery.

Eagle Grove Eagle -- Eagle Grove, Iowa
November 11, 1965

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Murder-Suicide Suspected in Double Shooting here
Zuetlaus Found Dead Tuesday

An apparent murder and suicide in Eagle Grove just past noon on Tuesday, Nov. 2, has taken the life of a local woman and her estranged husband in her home on North Montgomery. Dead are Mrs. Kathryn Zuetlau, 44, and Arthur James Zuetlau, 50. Dr. Dale Harding of Eagle Grove, county medical examiner, said Mrs. Zuetlau "died of multiple gunshot wounds" and Zuetlau "died of a single gunshot wound."

Police Chief Robert Koob and Sheriff Robert Blecker, who are conducting the investigation, theorize that Zuetlau shot his wife and then turned the gun on himself. With the investigation still in progress, however, they would issue no formal statement confirming the theory. A 22 calibre pistol was found at the scene and a ballistics check will be run to establish that it was the weapon used in both deaths. The time of the tragedy has been placed at sometime between 12:30 and 3:00 p. m. by the medical examiner. The Zuetlaus were discovered shortly after that by Mrs. James Deimerly who notified the police. Zuetlau, who worked for Deimerly, had taken the morning off from work saying he wanted to see his lawyer in Webster City. However, a friend of his, M. W. "Ted" Lyons, told Koob and Blecker that he didn't believe Zuetlau had gone to Webster City because he was with him most of the morning. He said he and Zuetlau parted just before noon and Zuetlau. Apparently went out to the house then or shortly thereafter. The bodies were found in the kitchen at the rear of the Zuetlau house beside a kitchen table where they apparently had been drinking coffee. The pistol was found on the floor between Zuetlau's feet.

The Zuetlaus were married in 1948 but were separated at the time of the tragedy. Mrs. Zuetlau
filed a petition for divorce last July and that case was expected to be heard during the November term of District Court in Clarion.

They are survived by one daughter, Cynthia, 13. In addition Mrs. Zuetlau is survived by three children by a prior marriage, Lloyd Rutherford of Eagle Grove, Mary Jane Schroeder of Monticello and Elmer Rutherford in the Navy stationed in the Phillipines.

Funeral services for Mrs. Zuetlau have been set at 2:00 p.m. Saturday in the Kastler Funeral Home here. Burial will be in Rose Hill cemetery. Services for Mr. Zuetlau will be at the Sievers Funeral Home in Humboldt at 2:30 p.m. on Friday.

Eagle Grove Eagle -- Eagle Grove, Iowa
November 4, 1965

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[tombstone has 1917 instead of 1921 as year of birth; 1921 correct per Iowa birth certificate;]