Rudolf Kaut

Rudy Kaut died February 26, 2022, in Des Moines.

Born in December 1930 in Poland, his family lived along the Vistula River near Magnuszew. He was the oldest of five brothers living a simple life among Polish, German, Ukrainian, and Jewish communities. After Germany attacked Poland, the family was resettled to Radom. As the Red Army liberated Poland from the Nazis, Rudy looked after his mother and brothers as they made their way west. They settled in Hameln, Germany. That’s where he met Ingrid and in 1955, they married.

Germany was rebuilding, but he and two of his brothers dreamed of better prospects in North America. In 1956 Rudy, Ingrid and infant Christine immigrated to Des Moines. Rudy found work manufacturing tires. He found better work in floor covering and built a successful independent contracting business installing tile and marble. Throughout his life he set great examples of helping wherever help was needed.

Rudy enjoyed working hard his whole life. By pacing himself, he still tackled challenging projects well into his eighties. Through his business and household projects, Rudy made sure all his children were comfortable with tools in their hands. He also valued education and made sure his first-generation college student children had the opportunity to finish their university educations. And they did. Their garden provided Rudy and Ingrid a job forever. He especially loved his roses.

Rudy actively supported Capitol Hill Lutheran Church and the Central Iowa Associates of the American-Scandinavian Foundation.

Rudy will be missed by his loving wife of 66 years, Ingrid; his children, Christine (Bob) Prell, Norbert (Judi), Thomas (Cari); his brothers, Helmut (June) and Bernhard (Gisela); his brother Gerhard’s wife, Rosemarie (Larry) Burch; brother-in-law, Dieter (Waltrout) Pollmann, and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, Rolf (Magdalena) and Gerhard.

Print