William "Bill" J. Riutta

William "Bill" James Riutta, devoted husband, loving and supportive dad, proud grandpa and great grandpa, passed away on April 15, 2025 at age 86, surrounded by his family. He was born on August 24, 1938, in Hancock, Michigan, the son of Toivo and Delia (nee Balagna) Riutta.

Bill graduated in 1961 from Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, with a Mechanical Engineering degree and worked as an industrial engineer and then a manufacturing engineer for his entire career. In 1996, he retired from Waukesha Engine. He was a longtime member of Ascension Lutheran Church in Waukesha.

Bill married his loving wife, Kathleen “Kathy” Riutta (nee Lynch), on June 15, 1963. They moved to Milwaukee from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and eventually landed in New Berlin, where together they raised two daughters, Susan “Susie” (Patrick “Pat”) Walczak and Jacqueline “Jackie” (David “Dave”) Rutzinski. Bill and Kathy then moved to Waukesha, and Bill’s life became richer as they welcomed five grandchildren into the family and then a great grandson. His family was the light of Bill’s life, and he never missed an opportunity to spend time with them. At the core of who he was, Bill was a dedicated and extremely proud family man. Being with family brought so much joy to Bill, as he delighted in the stories, the jokes, and the laughter, as well as reveling in everyone’s accomplishments. His legacy of kindness and integrity will live on through his family due to the way he quietly and steadfastly led by example.

Aside from family, Bill’s other passion was sports. Starting in high school and continuing until the age of 80, he played everything from basketball to softball and then tennis to pickleball. He was a member of many different sports teams, including some Senior Olympic teams. His collection of trophies and medals were some of his most prized possessions! If he wasn’t playing sports, he was watching them. He enjoyed college and pro basketball, baseball, and football, and you could almost always find a game on the radio or tv if you were at Bill and Kathy’s. More important to him than the sports/events on tv or radio, though, were those participated in by his daughters and then his grandchildren, and he did not miss a game/event – sometimes being the only spectator in a tie because he raced to an event right from work (or maybe even snuck out early). He was his girls’ and his grandkids’ biggest fan and cheerleader – always showing up and then clipping and keeping every single newspaper article/event program that mentioned one of his family members by name.

Bill was kind beyond description and was exceptionally nice to everyone he met. He greeted everyone with a smile, and he had a pleasant word to say at all times. He was easygoing and thoughtful, never judging or saying a harsh word. He loved to tease people and got a kick out of it when they teased him back. He brought light to so many.

Bill is survived, loved, and will be profoundly missed by his wife of almost 62 years, Kathy, his daughters and son-in-laws, Susie and Pat, and Jackie and Dave, and his grandchildren Savannah (Jason) Adlam, Alexis “Lexie” Rutzinski, Brady Walczak, Shayla Walczak, Caden Rutzinski, and his great grandson, Leyden William Adlam. He is also survived, loved, and will be deeply missed by his brother Robert “Bob” (Cynthia) Riutta and his niece Emily (Klint) Stephens and family, cousins, and many friends.

The family would like to thank all of the incredible employees at The Courtyard of Sussex for the amazing care given to Bill and the incredible love shown to him. Bill’s life was happier because of the goodness showered on him. We are forever grateful.

We will miss hearing Bill whistle whenever he was doing something, and we will miss the kind soul who was always there supporting us. We are so very grateful to have had this wonderful man in our lives for as long as we did. Behave yourself…

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, from 12:00 PM until the 2:00 PM memorial service at Ascension Lutheran Church located at 1415 Dopp St, Waukesha, WI 53188. A reception will follow.