PAUL ALFRED SCHUTTE 1923-1995

HOFER, HOEFER, MILLER, SCHUTTE, CASTEN, WHITE, BRACKETT

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 3/6/2005 at 19:35:03

Paul Alfred Schutte

A funeral service for Paul A. Schutte was held Monday, December 18, 1995 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, Iowa. The Rev. Charles W. Miller officiated. Special music was provided by the St. Paul Choir accompanied by Joan Martins, organist. The Schutte Funeral Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements.

Interment was in the Postville Cemetery.

Paul Alfred Schutte, son of Louis and Huldah (Hofer) Miller Schutte, was born July 5, 1923, in Postville, Iowa. He died Wednesday, December 13, 1995 at Mesa General Hospital in Mesa, Arizona. He was 72 years old.

He was baptized and confirmed March 21, 1937 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, Iowa by the Reverend R. B. Garten. Paul graduated from Postville High School in 1940 and attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids from 1940 to 1942.

He served during World War II from 1941 to 1945 in the Navy aboard The U.S.S. Stockham DD (683) which was assigned to the Pacific Theater. His rank was SKIC.

On June 25, 1947, he was married to Marian Casten at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. Paul attended the Cincinnati College of Embalming from 1947 to 1948. He returned to Postville to work with his father and brother, Willard, in the funeral and furniture business. In 1955 Paul started his own company, Marianna LP-Gas, Inc. A few years later, he expanded his operations to include light refined petroleum products and formed a second corporation, Marianna Petroleum, Inc. For a period of time he also operated a soft water company in Clermont. Paul retired in 1980.

Paul received his private pilot license in 1970 and flew his plane for business and as an opportunity to help friends. Over the years, Paul served on the Postville Hospital Board, the Citizens State Bank Board, Postville Board of Education, NALPG Board as secretary, Postville Commercial Club, SCORE, Northeast Iowa Small Business and was a member and past commander of VFW Post 9125.

Music was an important part of Paul's life. He was a soloist at numerous weddings and funerals and participated in several choruses and church choirs. He played the drums in the Postville High School marching band, which won two national titles in 1939 and 1940. For the past five years, Paul devoted his time to the reunion of his shipmates from the Stockham, becoming reacquainted with old friends and publishing a ship newsletter. He helped to care for Marian's parents for many years and while they were still able, flew them to their winter home in Mesa. They all looked forward to the fall and spring trips.

He was a lifetime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville and an associate member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Mesa during the winter months.

He is survived by his wife, Marian; six children, Stephen and his wife, Carol Sue, of Clear Lake, Peter and his wife, Sheri of Irvine, Calif., Kim Schutte of Postville, Carol and her husband, Jeffrey White, of Central City, Susan and her husband, Stephen Brackett of Rockford, Ill., and Christopher Schutte of Phoenix, Ariz; ten grandchildren, Bradley and Daniel Schutte, Kurt and Samantha Schutte, Zachary, Anna, Andrew and Sarah White and Patrick and William Brackett and a sister-in-law, Leta Schutte of Postville. He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Willard Schutte.

Casket bearers were Stephen L. Schutte, Christopher L. Schutte, Peter K. Schutte, Jeffrey S. White, Kim P. Schutte, Stephen P. Brackett.

Postville Herald - contributed by Mary Durr