Duane "Butch" H. Schutz
Duane (Butch) H. Schutz, age 76, of Elmwood, Wisconsin, passed away on March 5, 2025, at Our House Memory Care, Menomonie, Wisconsin, from vascular dementia.
Born on September 30, 1948, in Plum City, Wisconsin, Butch was the son of Arnold and Violet (Boller) Schutz. He grew up on a farm in Rock Elm Township. He attended Elmwood Schools graduating with the class of 1966. On August 22, 1970, Butch married Joyce Anderson at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley, Wisconsin. After their marriage they settled in Elmwood, Wisconsin. In 1982, Butch & Joyce built their home on West Winter Ave where they raised four children, Matthew, Craig, Patricia and Paula. Butch resided there until he entered memory care in December.
For 40 years, Butch worked as a highway maintenance worker, working for Rock Elm Township during the 70’s and 80’s until he was hired by the Pierce County Highway Department in 1990 until his retirement in 2015.
Butch was a hunter, especially during deer season. Bologna and brat-making get-togethers with friends occurred in the postseason. He was also a part of a fox hunting club with his buddies where there was probably less fox hunting and more beer drinking. For years, he took trips to Sheboygan, Wisconsin and/or Canada to fish for salmon or walleye. As his children got older, he was an active parent at their school events cheering on his own alma mater. After their children were raised, Butch and Joyce spent 25 years traveling by bus all over the United States including Alaska and Hawaii. They also enjoyed a cruise through the Panama Canal. Butch & Joyce had 13 grandchildren which kept them active over the last two decades going to sporting events, concerts, musicals and church programs.
Butch is survived by his wife, Joyce, of 54 years; children: Matthew of Glenwood City, Craig (Jill) of Baldwin, Patricia (Rusty) Cassellius of Elk Mound and Paula (Adam) Biesterveld of Rock Falls; 13 grandchildren: Riley, Makiah, Kendall, Parker, Ella, Kallie, Tanner, Colten, Landon, Emerson, Eli, Garrett & Kaleb; two siblings: Bobby (Dee Dee) Schutz & Bonnie Kay Schutz; two sisters-in-law: Randa (Bill) Pierce & Carol Benson; nieces, nephews, other relative and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters: Rosie (Bob) Knoll and Donna (Eldon) Billeter; one brother: Larry Schutz; and in-laws: Carl and Charlotte Anderson.
Memorial services will be 12:00 PM Saturday March 22, 2025, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley. Burial will be at a later date at Poplar Hill Cemetery in the Township of Rock Elm, rural Elmwood.
Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until the time of the service at the church on Saturday.