Gerhardt W. Rutschke, 88, Zeeland, ND, died Friday, May 31, 2013 in the Strasburg Care Center, Strasburg, ND. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 6, 2013 at Zion Lutheran Church, Zeeland, ND, with Rev. Eugene Roecker officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at Myers Funeral Home, Linton, ND and for one hour before service time on Thursday. Gerhardt was born June 9, 1924 on a farm near Zeeland, ND, the son of Jacob G. and Magdalena (Bauer) Rutschke. He was raised and educated in the Zeeland area. He also attended school in Mobridge, SD at Northwestern Lutheran Academy where he graduated from high school. He also attended the State School of Mines in Rapid City, SD, where he received an electrician's certificate. Gerhardt served in the US Army during WW II. He returned to Zeeland where he farmed until retiring in 2007. Gerhardt lived in Zeeland and enjoyed volunteering at the Strasburg Care Center. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church where he served on the Church Council, sang in the choir and was janitor for several years. Gerhardt is survived by one brother and two sisters-in-law, Melvin and Alciena Rutschke of Zeeland, ND and Ruth Rutschke of Strasburg, ND, one sister, Ruth Reimer, Herreid, SD, one nephew, Jerome (Dorinda) Rutschke of Zeeland, ND and a great niece, Casondra Rutschke of Zeeland, ND. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister-in-law, Edward and Amelia Rutschke and Jacob "Jake" Rutschke, one sister, Frieda Rutschke and one brother-in-law, Ferdinand Reimer.