William W. Shutte

William Walter Shutte (who is known by his wife and friends as Bill) passed on and then rose up to heaven the 29th day of May, 2011, to meet Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior. The beloved husband and father is survived by his loving wife Barbara Jean Shutte, and their three children, David William Shutte, Diane Lynn Coatley and Julie Kaye Malnar.

Bill died at the age of 84.

He was born on December 2, 1926, in Cleveland, Ohio. William’s parents moved he and his brother Bob (who predeceased Bill in 1999) to Ypsilanti, Michigan, at age 10 in 1936.

William started college at the University of Michigan at age 17. He was drafted into the Army at age 18 where he served during the tail end of World War II. After Bill was honorably discharged, he returned to school at the University of Michigan on the G.I Bill where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. William then completed a bachelor’s degree in education from Eastern Michigan University, after which he obtained a license to teach education in the state of Michigan. Bill went on to earn a master’s degree in Chemistry from Clarkston Institute of Technology in Potsdam, New York, and a master’s degree in education from the University of Michigan.

Bill was a high school teacher of both Chemistry and Physics in the state of Michigan for over 37 years. He taught at Howell High School for two years, then at Reed City High School for another two years and finally at Melvindale High School for 33 years.

He coached varsity tennis at Melvindale high School for about 25 years.

There were many personal tributes to William’s teaching skills – he had numerous former students who would pay Bill a personal visit or send him a letter thanking him for the high standards that he demanded and the preparation that he required in both the classroom and in his weekly labs, all of which helped lead them to successfully earning a bachelor’s and/or doctorate degrees. Although Bill did not himself earn a doctorate, his students referred to him as “Doc Shutte” (he ran his Chemistry I and Chemistry II high school classes more at a college level, then at a high school level). .

Bill was a devoted husband, a man of high integrity and honesty. He had a work ethic and standard of performance that was passed onto all of his children.

William and Barb Shutte lived in Allen Park, Michigan, in the same house, for the last 56 years. Julie Kaye Malnar, her husband Roger and their three children (Michael, Jeffrey and Alana) all have lived in Allen Park for the last 22 years. Diane Lynn Coatley, her husband Tom and their two living children (Kristopher and Robert) all have lived in Panama City, Florida, for the last 10 years. Diane and Tom lost a newborn child (Nichole) to heart failure 31 years ago. David William Shutte, his wife Daina and one of their two children (Michael) all have lived in Lake Oswego, Oregon, for the last 21 years, while their other child (Aleksandra), who graduated from Gonzaga University, just moved to Seattle, Washington, to begin a new marketing coordinator position. Bill and Barb Shutte also have three great-grandchildren from the marriage of Kristopher and Ashley Coatley, whose children include Dezmond, Trevin and Nikolette.

We will always have fond memories of William Shutte. He was an extraordinary man. He lived by example. He was a devoted husband. He was a committed family man. He was a man of incredible honesty and integrity. He demanded a high standard of performance from all of us who touched his life.

We will miss you terribly William Shutte! Although you have moved onto be with Jesus, your brother Bob, Nichole and other family and friends in heaven, you will never be forgotten here on Earth. .

All of Our Love, the extended Shutte Family

Visitation Monday 4 - 8 pm at Weise Funeral Home, 7210 Park Ave., Allen Park (313 382-1150). In State Tuesday 10 am until time of service 11 am at the Allen Park Presbyterian Chapel, 7101 Park Ave., Allen Park.