RUBEN CARL SCHUTTE 1920-1992

SANDER, SCHUTTE, RALSTON, SCHULTZ, CRAIN, TOLLEFSON, PHILLIPS, MEYER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 3/6/2005 at 19:43:43

Ruben Carl Schutte

Ruben Carl Schutte, son of Charles F. Schutte and Ida (Sander) Schutte, was born on June 7, 1920 on the family farm near Luana, Iowa. He died on Monday, May 4, 1992 at the Rochester Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minn. He was 71.

He was baptized on October 24, 1920 at the Lutheran Parsonage, and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Luana. After graduation from the Luana school, he farmed at home for several years, and helped other farmers in the area.

On January 17, 1947 he married Marjorie Fern Ralston at St. John Lutheran Church in Luana, Pastor Paul Adix officiating. After they married, they farmed in the Ossian and Castalia area for 42 years, until a farm accident forced him to retire. It was discovered at that time that he had multiple myeloma. After the accident, they left the farm and moved to Decorah.

Ruben is preceded in death by his parents; his step-mother, Ida (Schultz) Schutte; his brother, Arthur Schutte, Charles Schutte, Jr., and Robert Schutte; and a sister-in-law, Florence (Mrs. Charles) Schutte.

Surviving are his wife, Marjorie; his children, Linda and her husband Merlin Crain of Cresco, Kathryn and her husband Lyle Tollefson of Decorah, Dean and his wife Jeanne of Caledonia, Minn., Charles and his friend Margaret Cosby-Schutte of Wheaton, Ill., and Marsha and her husband Roger Phillips of Decorah. Also surviving are 19 grandchildren, five great grandchildren, a sister, Ethel (Mrs. Lawrence Meyer) of Ossian; a brother Harry and his wife Mabel of Prairie du Chien, Wis., sisters-in-law Esther (Mrs. Robert Schutte) of La Mesa, Calif., and a half-sister, Doris Schutte of Postville.

Ruben was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church of Castalia, where he had served on the church council for one term.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, May 7, 1992 at 11 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia, the Rev. H. W. Wolfgram officiating. The Schutte Funeral Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements. Burial was in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Castalia.

Casket bearers were John Meyer, Marvin Meyer, Roger Schutte, Luther Schutte, Marlin Schutte, Larry Meyer, Dale Schutte, Milton Schutte, Harry Schutte and Cyril Livingood.

Note: according to Kathryn Tollefson, daughter of Ruben, there is missing information to this obituary: survivors, Margaret (Mrs. Arthur Schutte) of LaMesa, Calif. and Esther (Mrs. Robert Schutte) of Postville.

Postville Herald - contributed by Mary Durr