David Louis Schutte, 82, of Postville, Iowa died Sunday, May 16, 2021 at his home in Postville, Iowa. David Louis Schutte was born June 14, 1938 at Community Memorial Hospital in Postville, Iowa, to Willard Helmuth and Leta Louise (Dieckman) Schutte. He was baptized in St. Paul Lutheran Church, and confirmed in the Community Presbyterian Church, both in Postville.
David attended Kindergarten and Elementary School at Postville Community Schools and was graduated from Postville High School with the Class of 1956. He attended Iowa State University from 1956 to 1959 when he was attracted to the family business, at the suggestion of his Grandpa Louis Schutte, to attend the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago.
David was married to Karen Rae Rekow on June 21, 1959 in St. Paul Lutheran Church at Postville. The couple set off for Chicago, where Karen was employed by Continental Bank and David attended classes at Worsham College for the next year, graduating with the Class of 1961. They returned to Postville to become part of the local community in the funeral business and to raise their family. To this union three children were born, including James David, Diane Elizabeth, and Sara Lynn.
Dave received his Iowa Funeral Directors License in 1962 after serving one year of apprenticeship and his Wisconsin License in 1976. They purchased the Funeral Home in 1968. The ambulance service was also a part of the business and David expanded it into an advanced service and later turned it over to a private board of directors which exists today. In January of 2009 Dave and Karen began the transition to transfer Schutte Funeral Service to Schutte-Grau Funeral Home with Joshua and Annette Grau, after over 50 years of service.
They became members of the Community Presbyterian Church in Postville where Dave served in many capacities, including Treasurer for more than 32 years, the Board of Deacons and Trustees, as well as several terms on the Church Session and ad hoc committees. He sang in the church choir for over 50 years.
Dave was past president and the current Administrator of the Postville Cemetery Association. He was a member of the Postville Volunteer Fire Department for over 25 years, the Commercial Club, Jaycees, Kiwanis Club. He also served on the Postville School Board, the Postville City Council, Postville Library Board and the Postville State Bankshares Board. He received his ASEL pilot’s license in 1968. Dave enjoyed being in the Postville Drum and Bugel Corps, and was a charter member of the Lion’s Club and the well-known Lions Club Lawn Chair Brigade.
He also served in a leadership capacity on several IFDA (Iowa Funeral Directors Association) including Iowa Governor of District 1 in 1967 and 1984, Funeral Services of Iowa Board of Directors, Committee on Ethics, and IFDA Secretary. He would have received a plaque for 60 years of funeral service in May of 2022. Most of all, Dave’s greatest joy in life was the love he had for his family; attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, family gatherings, special trips with Karen and meeting the “newest” family members.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Leta Schutte, a brother-in-law, Joe Swalek, an uncle and aunt, Paul and Marian Schutte; father and mother-in-law, Henry and Mabel Rekow, sisters in-law, Gwen (Ed) Boske and Marje (Stan) Schroeder and other family members.
Surviving Dave are his wife of 62 years, Karen; son, James and his wife, Ellen; two daughters, Diane and her husband, Kenneth Butikofer; and Sara and her husband, Todd Schenck; and a sister, Anne Swalek. There are nine grandchildren: Cody (Ivory) Schutte; Katie (Jeremy) Wurzer; Jacob (Emma) Schutte; Hannah Schutte; Jessica (Blake) Hasenmiller; Joshua (Kimberly) Butikofer; Connor (Melanie Tate) Schenck; Robert Cole (Kelsey Laughman) Schenck; and Carson Schenck, 11 great grandchildren: Elizabeth, Alexander, Zachariah, and Abigail Hasenmiller; Nic and Joshua Schutte; Bennett, Payson, and Annalysse Wurzer; twin girls May and Liv Schutte; 3 additional babies due this summer and brother-in-law, Leigh and Gwen Rekow, and sister-in-law, Sherrill and Leslie Heckman.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm on Thursday, May 20, 2021 at Community Presbyterian Church in Postville, Iowa. There will also be a one hour visitation before services at the church on Friday.
Funeral Service will be at 11:00 am on Friday, May 21, 2021 at Community Presbyterian Church in Postville, Iowa.
Burial will follow at Postville Cemetery, Postville, Iowa.
Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Postville, Iowa is assisting the family with arrangements.