Colonel Clarence “Dutch” Rubenacker was born January 17, 1928, to Charles and Clara Rubenacker in McLeansboro, Illinois. Dutch passed away on July 6, 2026, as he had wanted to – in the home that he had designed and built in Malibu.
Dutch was always an avid sports fan. He excelled in his high school sports – baseball, basketball and football. He and some of his fellow teammates even went to Chicago to try out for a major baseball team. He graduated from Mr. Vernon High school in 1946. After graduation he relocated to Los Angeles, California and was hired on a road crew for Los Angeles County Department of Engineers. A year, later he married his high school sweetheart, Beverly Ann Endicott (Class of 1947). They had three children, Deborah, John and Rebecca.
During his early years in the Department of County Engineer, Dutch’s work ethic and dedication stood out and he was encouraged to pursue formal studies in Civil Engineering. He proceeded to work full-time and attend classes in the evening and after almost 14 years of attending classes at night at the University of Southern California he earned a Civil Engineering Degree in 1968. He became a licensed professional Civil Engineer (Lic. # C122832) that same year.
In 1952, Dutch enlisted in the US Army Reserves as a private and was assigned to the 311th Logistical Command: The mission was to support field armies when activated. He rose through the enlisted ranks, completed Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a second Lieutenant. Along with his background in civil engineering in Los Angeles County Department of Engineers, and his innovative leadership, he was promoted to many staff positions. Dutch was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1979 and later the Legion of Merit (the army’s second highest service award) in 1983. He served with distinction in various leadership and staff roles. Dutch attended numerous army schools, held key leadership, staff positions and ultimately retired as a full Colonel in 1987. In addition to rising in ranks in the U.S. Army, he also rose from being on the road crew to designing bridges, roads, water flow patterns and along with storm drains. As a Civil Engineer, Dutch became a department head in the Los Angeles County Road Department and retired in 1987 after completing 37 years and 8 months of loyal public service.
Dutch and Beverly were married for 69 years. Beverly preceded him in death in 2016. Dutch is survived by their three successful children and their spouses, Deborah and Glen Sunyich, John and Kathryn Rubenacker, Rebecca and Brent Toland. Beverly and Dutch have four grandchildren Jeffrey Sunyich, Jacob, Jordan and Michaela Toland.
Colonel Rubenacker’s life was a testament to hard work, patriotism, and devotion to family. His legacy endures in the lives he shaped, the structures he designed and the example he set for his family and generations to come.
A funeral mass will be held for Dutch on July 30, 2026, at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Malibu Church. The procession and burial will immediately follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City. He will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife, Beverly Rubenacker –reunited at last
