Schutt, Eugene Tunis "Gene" 1936-2023

SCHUTT, PEELEN, HUISMAN

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/8/2023 at 12:30:22

Mr. Eugene Schutt, age 86, of Alton, passed away on Friday, January 6, 2023, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.

There will be a memorial service on Monday, January 9, at 11:00am, at the First Reformed Church in Orange City with the Rev. Mark Haverdink officiating. A time of visitation with the family will follow the service from 1:00pm to 2:30pm, at the church. The Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City is in charge of arrangements.

Eugene Tunis was born to Sam T. and Grace (Peelen) Schutt on August 18, 1936, in Sioux Center. He grew up in and around Sioux Center, where he attended country school and the Sioux Center High School. As a young man, “Gene” worked for an area farmer and at the Mutual Telephone Company as well as serving in the National Guard.

He was united in marriage to Anna Mae Huisman on February 15, 1961, at the Carmel Reformed Church near Sioux Center. The couple first made their home in Sioux Center, and briefly in Hospers, before settling on an acreage west of Hospers, where they raised their four children. The couple owned and operated the G&A Drive-In in Orange City and the Kountry Kitchen Café in Hospers. Gene also worked in a number of different capacities as an adult including driving truck, farming, selling farm implements, trimming trees, and working in manufacturing and construction. Prior to his retirement, Gene owned and operated Four Way Roofing in Hospers. He and Anna Mae moved to Alton in 2012 where they have since made their home.

Mr. Schutt was currently a member of the First Reformed Church in Orange City. In earlier years, he was a member of the First Reformed Church in Hospers and served as their Sunday school treasurer. Later, he was a member of the Trinity Reformed Church in Orange City and he helped maintain the church’s lawn. He was also active in the Cursillo Movement, volunteering as a cook for 46 of their Christian retreats. He liked playing ball games, including slow and fast pitch softball, was an avid fisherman, and enjoyed having conversations with his friends over coffee. He and Anna Mae were frequent attendees at their grandchildren’s extracurricular activities and looked forward to spending time with their family at the lake cabin and on their annual family outing.

He will be greatly missed by his wife of almost 62 years, Anna Mae, of Alton; a daughter and her husband, Sheila and Tim Hatting, of Hospers; two sons and their wives, Brian and Lisa Schutt, of Alton, and Bruce and Amy Schutt, of Orange City; a son-in-law, Paul Te Brink, of Alton; eight grandchildren, Tana (Corey) Van Gorp, Austin (Bobbi) Te Brink, Kayla (Dean) Meis, Marissa (Ross) Van Kekerix, Ashley (Darren) Wielenga, Alison (Hans) Epp, Brady (Emily) Schutt, and Jadeyn Schutt; ten great-grandchildren, Jace and Kinley Van Gorp; Mia Te Brink; Kasen and Kohen Meis; Maelynn and Rawlins Van Kekerix; and Jayla, Tatum, and Briella Wielenga; and a sister and her husband, Sandy and Norly Vande Brake, of Okoboji; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and his wife’s parents, Matthew and Gertrude Huisman, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Starla Te Brink; a sister and her husband, Eunice and Kenneth Hulstein; and a brother, Howard Schutt, and his wives, Joan and Marlys.

Memorials may be given to the Schutt Family for future designation.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.