Rudolf Gutzwiller

Rudolf Gutzwiller

His strength lay in his ability to demand the maximum from the companies entrusted to him, without neglecting the people. This is how the director of a multinational company recently described Rudolf Gutzwiller, who died on May 3, at a conference of directors. He then asked the participants to observe a minute of silence in honor of the deceased. Gutzwiller had left the company as early as 1967.

Rudolf Gutzwiller was involved for decades in the implementation of the spirit of moral rearmament in the industry. Even before the Second World War, he and his wife were introduced to the ideas of Frank Buchman. His most important experiences were made when he was the director of 5 spinning mills of a textile company. When the son of the main shareholder took over the business, Gutzwiller was unjustly dismissed. He was very bitter about this. He thought of apologizing for his negative feelings to the person who had treated him badly. As a free man, he was able to leave his job. I would have had a hard time getting over the shock if I hadn't been shown a way in silence," he liked to say.

At the  55 ages, Gutzwlller took up this position in the company mentioned at the beginning. These were the most successful years of his professional career. My task was to develop companies in various countries, to support them and to coordinate them technically," he writes in his memoirs. In addition to the technical development of the factories, I was able, together with my wife, to take an interest in the men, to improve their working conditions and to give to the managers as well as to the employees and their families, the best of our experiences and our life with God... That a marriage is true when it is led by God.

Throughout their activities around the world, the Gutzwlllers have realized that professional life cannot be separated from family life. On several occasions, the company found itself in the red when the family and marital life of its manager was not intact. This fact stimulated the Gutzwiller family to continue to care about people and to maintain friendships into old age.

He ended his memoirs with these words: "In conclusion, I would like to say to those who want to go forward, trust the Lord. He really exists. I could tell him my needs and weaknesses in silence and, through the small voice inside, he gave me answers. Life with God is full of miracles.

Heini and Rita Karrer