Shirley A. Schutter

Shirley Arlene Schutter, age 88 of Forest City, died Monday, September 17, 2018 in Leland as a result of a motor vehicle accident.

Funeral service will be 11:00 A.M., Friday, September 21, 2018 at West Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Leland, Iowa with Pastor Steve Bang officiating.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., Thursday, September 20, 2018, at Cataldo Schott Funeral Chapel, 505 North Clark St. Forest City, Iowa and an hour prior to service at the church on Friday.

Burial will be at West Prairie Lutheran Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the West Prairie Cemetery fund.

Shirley Arlene Schutter the daughter of Gustaf and Agnes (Larson) Gustafson was born July 22, 1930 in Mt. Valley Township. She was baptized and confirmed at Winnebago Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills. She attended country school through 8th grade then attended Forest City High School graduating in 1947.

After high school she attended Iowa Teachers College, what is now University of Northern Iowa, graduating in 1949. She taught school in Britt, later in Fort Dodge and then substitute taught around the Thompson – Forest City area.

On June 19, 1955 she married Vernon Schutter at Winnebago Lutheran Church. The couple farmed near Buffalo Center for three years then bought a farm near Leland where they lived for 40 years.

With the arrival of Beth and Bill, Shirley became involved with 4-H as a leader, teaching Sunday School and attending the kid’s activities. Family was always very important to her and she enjoyed the times she spent with them.

The couple enjoyed traveling and visited Alaska, New York City, Mexico, Washington, D.C. and San Antonio, Texas. Shirley and daughter Beth also enjoyed a trip to Europe. In 1997 they turned the family farm over to their son Bill and his family and moved to Forest City.
On New Year’s Eve 2001 Shirley suffered a severe stroke but she didn’t let that slow her down. She continued to be active in her church, belonging to several study, card and birthday clubs. Shirley was an avid reader and enjoyed watching the Minnesota Twins baseball games. She kept up on current events and was still interested in the family farm operation.

She is survived by a daughter, Beth Eilers and husband Dan of Clive, IA; a son, Bill and wife Rita of rural Leland, IA; four grandchildren, Austin and Sydney Eilers, Ethan and wife Samantha and Haley Schutter; two great-grandchildren Emerson and Rylee Schutter. Also surviving are her brother, Carroll Gustafson and wife Karen; sister-in-law Harriet Gustafson and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Vernon, brother Gerald Gustafson, brother/sister-in-law’s Evelyn and Ralph Taylor, Harry and Marcella Schutter, nephews Jon and Jeff Gustafson.