Moments in Time
Moments in Time is a weekly series featuring recollections of area residents. To suggest someone to feature in Moments in Time, please contact Mary Jane Grenzow, editor, at editor@themonroetimes.com.
MONROE - George Schutte's life simply revolves around family. Regular gatherings keep him busy year-round and the 88-year-old is still full of life, excitement and enjoyment about things he's always loved: baking, gardening and people.
Schutte was raised in Sterling, Colorado with seven brothers and six sisters. It was a farming community and, in some ways, similar to Monroe. For fun, he recalls playing kick the can, hide and seek and making his own toys, like scooters, out of old roller skates.
The family farm had a
little bit of everything - horses, milk cows, pigs, chickens and a very large garden. Schutte recalls his mother's large garden not only feeding the family, but having enough for him to load up a wagon and knock on neighbor's doors to sell the abundance. He remembers doing quite well for the family that way, and he enjoyed it.
"My mom was an excellent cook," he said. "We always had a lot of company. My mom and dad didn't have much but we had a lot of love and good eating."
Schutte attended St. Anthony's Catholic School until eighth grade, like most of his peers, and admits to being a lousy student. He worked on a neighbor's farm for a while, but at age 15, he went to work on the railroad with his father. The help was needed during World War II, and Schutte was there for just two years before he signed up to go into the Navy at age 17.
He was on the USS Pennsylvania battleship in the Pacific Ocean. He was on his way to Japan just before the atomic bomb was dropped when his ship was struck by a torpedo. It was a scary time he doesn't talk much about, but he says he's glad he wasn't hurt.
Once he was out of the service, Schutte met his wife Algreta, who was born and raised in Madison. After her father was transferred to Sterling, she lived right around the corner from the Schutte family, and the two hit it off.
The couple married in 1947, accompanied by their parents who had to sign for the young couple. Today, they boast 17 children - 12 sons and five daughters. Schutte says he has the greatest kids in the world.
As part of the G.I. Bill, Schutte went to school to become a baker, and he baked in Sterling for about 10 years. One year while visiting Algreta's family, Schutte walked into the Piggly Wiggly on East Washington Avenue in Madison looking for a job, and he was hired on the spot. Schutte says he thanks his wife every day for bringing him to Wisconsin.
The job was one that he thoroughly enjoyed, and when the bakery closed, they took him on as a manager trainee. He worked on Monona Drive for two years before becoming the manager of the Eagle Foods store in Monroe in 1960. When Pick 'N Save offered him a job, Schutte took over managing that store and worked there until his retirement.
He enjoyed the people he worked with and held high standards when it came to hiring young people. Even today, Schutte can't go anywhere without finding people to talk to. He worked longer than planned because he enjoyed the job so much, but eventually, Schutte was ready to retire.
"I've enjoyed life," he said. "I've had a great life. Money doesn't buy happiness - I don't have much, but I'm happy."
Over the years, Schutte is proud that he traveled with his children, camping and visiting several states and parks. The couple's original plan was to have four children, but it was quickly decided that a bigger family was most definitely for them.
"I think it's the greatest thing in the world," Schutte said of his large family.
Schutte loves to be busy and hasn't stopped baking. He is proud to say that he's baked all of his children's wedding cakes and even more for other family members. He still bakes cookies and makes homemade bread, jams, wine, pickles and relishes. The couple also enjoys fishing together whenever and wherever they can.
Family gatherings happen every two years at the Schutte ranch. The group that includes 51 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren (three on the way) and one great-great-grandchild congregate on the ranch just outside of Monroe in a shelter house on their property that was built years ago to accommodate them.
Algreta makes 50 pounds of potato salad and Schutte bakes for all to enjoy. They keep the reunion activities as large as they are. The July gathering boasts a 100-foot water slide - and 88-year-old Schutte is always the first to go down it.
Schutte spends much of his free time prepping for the event and other get-togethers, including an Easter egg hunt that simply won't quit.
They are longtime members of St. Victor's Catholic Church and enjoy traveling - often with their children - and have been on eight cruises and a 12-day trip to Europe. Their children are all over the U.S., and they enjoy visiting them when they can.
"I love life," he said. "I love my family. Family is the most important thing in the world to me."
Schutte was raised in Sterling, Colorado with seven brothers and six sisters. It was a farming community and, in some ways, similar to Monroe. For fun, he recalls playing kick the can, hide and seek and making his own toys, like scooters, out of old roller skates.
The family farm had a
little bit of everything - horses, milk cows, pigs, chickens and a very large garden. Schutte recalls his mother's large garden not only feeding the family, but having enough for him to load up a wagon and knock on neighbor's doors to sell the abundance. He remembers doing quite well for the family that way, and he enjoyed it.
"My mom was an excellent cook," he said. "We always had a lot of company. My mom and dad didn't have much but we had a lot of love and good eating."
Schutte attended St. Anthony's Catholic School until eighth grade, like most of his peers, and admits to being a lousy student. He worked on a neighbor's farm for a while, but at age 15, he went to work on the railroad with his father. The help was needed during World War II, and Schutte was there for just two years before he signed up to go into the Navy at age 17.
He was on the USS Pennsylvania battleship in the Pacific Ocean. He was on his way to Japan just before the atomic bomb was dropped when his ship was struck by a torpedo. It was a scary time he doesn't talk much about, but he says he's glad he wasn't hurt.
Once he was out of the service, Schutte met his wife Algreta, who was born and raised in Madison. After her father was transferred to Sterling, she lived right around the corner from the Schutte family, and the two hit it off.
The couple married in 1947, accompanied by their parents who had to sign for the young couple. Today, they boast 17 children - 12 sons and five daughters. Schutte says he has the greatest kids in the world.
As part of the G.I. Bill, Schutte went to school to become a baker, and he baked in Sterling for about 10 years. One year while visiting Algreta's family, Schutte walked into the Piggly Wiggly on East Washington Avenue in Madison looking for a job, and he was hired on the spot. Schutte says he thanks his wife every day for bringing him to Wisconsin.
The job was one that he thoroughly enjoyed, and when the bakery closed, they took him on as a manager trainee. He worked on Monona Drive for two years before becoming the manager of the Eagle Foods store in Monroe in 1960. When Pick 'N Save offered him a job, Schutte took over managing that store and worked there until his retirement.
He enjoyed the people he worked with and held high standards when it came to hiring young people. Even today, Schutte can't go anywhere without finding people to talk to. He worked longer than planned because he enjoyed the job so much, but eventually, Schutte was ready to retire.
"I've enjoyed life," he said. "I've had a great life. Money doesn't buy happiness - I don't have much, but I'm happy."
Over the years, Schutte is proud that he traveled with his children, camping and visiting several states and parks. The couple's original plan was to have four children, but it was quickly decided that a bigger family was most definitely for them.
"I think it's the greatest thing in the world," Schutte said of his large family.
Schutte loves to be busy and hasn't stopped baking. He is proud to say that he's baked all of his children's wedding cakes and even more for other family members. He still bakes cookies and makes homemade bread, jams, wine, pickles and relishes. The couple also enjoys fishing together whenever and wherever they can.
Family gatherings happen every two years at the Schutte ranch. The group that includes 51 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren (three on the way) and one great-great-grandchild congregate on the ranch just outside of Monroe in a shelter house on their property that was built years ago to accommodate them.
Algreta makes 50 pounds of potato salad and Schutte bakes for all to enjoy. They keep the reunion activities as large as they are. The July gathering boasts a 100-foot water slide - and 88-year-old Schutte is always the first to go down it.
Schutte spends much of his free time prepping for the event and other get-togethers, including an Easter egg hunt that simply won't quit.
They are longtime members of St. Victor's Catholic Church and enjoy traveling - often with their children - and have been on eight cruises and a 12-day trip to Europe. Their children are all over the U.S., and they enjoy visiting them when they can.
"I love life," he said. "I love my family. Family is the most important thing in the world to me."