Mr Rutherford (71), who founded and ran flightseeing company Glenorchy Air with wife Janet for more than 25 years, died at his Frankton home last Monday as a result of a fall.
His funeral service will be held tomorrow at St Margaret's Presbyterian Church, in Frankton, from 11am.
Daughter Amy said her father was a "perpetually curious'' person with a particular interest in technology.
An early adopter - first buying a computer in 1984 - he had an aptitude for electronics and social media apps unusual for someone of his age.
His latest interest had been riding - and tinkering with - an electric bike.
Daughter Emily said her father was "just so passionate about every day'', and particularly loved his family and the Queenstown Lakes district.
Not long before he died, he had sent her a photo of the sunset.
"He truly loved this area.''
Mrs Rutherford said her husband had been on their roof cleaning solar panels when his ladder failed and gave way under his weight.
He was "very, very proud'' of Glenorchy Air's safety record, so when she prepared a media statement last week, she made a point of saying how he had died so that people would not assume it was a flying accident.
The couple had been delighted to celebrate the company's 25th anniversary last November after overcoming tough times in a "fickle'' industry.
He held three key roles in the business: chief pilot, training captain and maintenance controller.
But because they were planning an extended trip overseas next year, and had been gradually "pulling back'' from day-to-day operations, they had made provision for those roles to be filled in his absence.
That meant the company could continue to run smoothly into the future, she said.
The company would resume full operations on Friday, weather permitting, she said.
