Howard D. Schutt

He was born April 2, 1931, to Harry and Helene (Michielsen) Schutt in Holland Michigan and was a lifelong resident. He was a member of North Holland Reformed Church all his life. He served in the Air Force from 1949 to 1951 in San Antonio, TX and Cheyenne, WY as a supply clerk. Growing up he had many chores on the farm which prepared him for working life. He worked at Penney’s selling shoes and socks, Hemco Guages, Chris Craft, the tannery in Grand Haven, Continental Motors in Muskegon, and Bareman’s Dairy. He began his construction career working for his brother Edwin, learning the skill of carpentry. He then started Schutt & Slagh Builders, building many homes and apartment buildings in the Holland area and Maple View Mobile Home Park in Zeeland. He volunteered at the Holland Fire Department. Howard married Delores Lanham on October 1, 1954 and they were married for 64 years. They had many happy years together raising their family, taking many fun trips with daughters Mary and Joanne, playing at their cottage on Big Star Lake, golfing, motorcycling, vacationing in Hawaii, driving a pickup camper 3 times to Alaska, traveling during the winters to Florida, Arizona, and Texas in their 5th wheel, and camping around Michigan during the summers. In retirement Howie enjoyed making stained glass pieces, accomplishing a lamp project, a church lamp, and converting a Tulip Time poster to glass to fit his 5th wheel door window. Many fellow campers in their travels approached his camper to get a closer look at that one.

He was preceded in death by his wife Delores in 2019; siblings and in-laws, Edwin (Ila), James, Nelva (Gerrit) VanKampen, Raymon (Bea), Donald, and Arlene Tenckinck.

He is survived by daughters Mary Schutt (Joe Doyle) of Muskegon, and Joanne (Lew) Parsell of Holland; sister-in-law Marlie Schutt and brother-in-law Kenneth Tenckinck of New Jersey; grandchildren Michelle (Derek) Shaver, Samantha (Cory Hoggard) Widner, and Rachel (Jim) Thorpe and 9 great-grandchildren, Nicole, Cody, Austin, Natalie, Emma, Norah, Sylis, Ashton, and Amira.

Howie had many friends over the years and he never forgot a face or a name. He remembered details about people’s lives and their families. He often talked about his servers at the Wooden Shoe, Burger King, and Jackie’s Restaurant. He always made an effort to talk to people, usually starting off with a smile and a humorous question to get a reaction of some sort. He always had the best of intentions and hoped to brighten a person’s day and at least make them laugh a little.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 7 at 12:00 PM at North Holland Reformed Church, 12050 New Holland Street, Pastor Steve DeVries officiating. The family invites you to join them for visitation at the North Holland Reformed Church on Friday, October 6 from 5-7 PM and at 11:00 AM prior to the funeral service. Burial will take place at North Holland Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Lakeshore Memorial Services.