OK Obits

© Vondel L. Smith & Sons
Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

Vista Jane "Janie" (O’Daniell) Kutz

Wednesday, November 7th, 1945 ~ Sunday, May 10th, 2020

A Celebration of Janie’s life will be10:00 AM Saturday, May 30, 2020, at Grace Place Baptist Church, 9300 S. Anderson Road, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73160. Please deliver all floral arrangements to the church as Vondel Smith Mortuary is not involved in the memorial service.

Vista Jane “Janie” Kutz, 74 years old, passed from this life into the arms of Jesus on Sunday, May 10, 2020. Janie was born on November 7, 1945 in Oklahoma City to Thomas Leonard and Opal O’Daniell and married William Kutz in October of 1981.

Possessing a servant’s heart, Janie faithfully cared for her family, friends, and church family over the years. Her hands were never still and she found joy in cooking and sewing for others. Over the years, she was also active in the church choir and nursery, taught Sunday School and created hundreds of costumes and banners for worship services.

A woman of unwavering faith and the heart of her family, Janie shaped the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren by her Christ-like example. The love and compassion she and William had for people compelled them to become foster parents in 1985, opening their home to more than 240 children. They served in Advocacy and Partnership programs with the Cleveland County Department of Human Services, working to reunite children with their families whenever possible. They were recognized by the State of Oklahoma, featured in local and state newspapers, and honored on three occasions for their service to children in need and their families. While serving in the foster care program, William and Janie added three children to their family through adoption.

Janie’s love and compassion for others was also demonstrated in her own family. When her mother, Opal, suffered a stroke that left her bedfast and unable to speak, Janie brought her home and cared for her until her death in 1986. Years later, her daughter, Michele, struggled with serious health issues resulting in the need for full-time care. Janie didn’t hesitate to step back into the role of caregiver, ensuring Michele’s quality of life until her death in 2018.

In recent years, William and Janie have enjoyed a Caribbean cruise and travels to Disney World, Colorado, Branson, MO and Silver Dollar City, but Janie’s passion was gardening. She spent hours caring for her gardens and propagating rare roses – a beautiful visual representation of the care and nurture she gave to all.

Janie was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Opal O’Daniell; her brother, Leonard Ray O’Daniell and his wife, Virginia; and her daughter, Michele Allison.

She is survived by her husband, William Kutz; her children, Michael Jones and wife, Rhonda, Melissa Horton and husband, Reid, Richard Kutz, Allie Hartshorne, and Marcia Brown; and her sister, Pat Cline and husband, Spencer.
Janie’s legacy includes 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She has also impacted the lives of many nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless families whose children she loved as her own.

Her children rise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. (Proverbs 31:28-31) 

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