Joe A. Shutte

Joseph (Joe) Schutte passed away October 30th, 2012 at the age of 75 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Joe was born on January 4th, 1937 to Joseph and Olympe (LeBlanc) Schutte in Sterling Colorado, the youngest of 14 children. He attended St Anthony's Catholic school and graduated from St Patrick's Academy in Sidney, Nebraska in 1955. Shortly after graduating, Joe moved to Denver Colorado to pursue a career in construction. In the spring of 1957 he met a strong independent woman who stole his heart. Joe and Mary (Murdock) were married on November 16th, 1957 in Denver. They moved to Colorado Springs where their son Michael (Mic) and daughter MaryJo were born. Shortly after MaryJo was born, the family moved back to Denver. Mary was notorious for waiting until the last minute to get to the hospital to have her children. As a result, their third child, Madonna (Donna), was born in the front seat of a car, with Joe assisting in the delivery, one of his fondest memories. At that time fathers were not allowed in the delivery rooms. Mary made it to the hospital for the births of the last three children, Marla, Matthew (Matt) and Marlene (Marty). The family lived in a small house in Denver until the summer of 1974 when they moved to Englewood, Colorado. Mary still resides there. When his boss Harold Johnson decided to retire, Joe purchased the business and continued to finish concrete until complications from cancer forced him to retire also. Joe is well known for elaborate fountains, custom steps, and beautiful patios and pool decks. Some of Joe's hobbies included hot air ballooning, drag racing, and golf. He would often spend weeks in the winter in San Diego with his daughter Donna's family, or in Phoenix with his daughter Marla's family, where he would play golf until his body hurt. He would also go to the desert with Donna's family and race around the sand dunes for hours of fun. His son Matt and daughter Marty became drag racers, and Joe rarely missed an event they competed in. In September 2005 Joe drove Marty's Camaro race car down the drag strip reaching a speed of 107mph in 12.90 seconds. His smile was all you could see when he got out of the car. Hot air ballooning took Joe to many locations including Steamboat Springs and Snowmass, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Leon, Mexico. Joe loved his wife, his family, his friends, and life in general. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary; sons Michael (Mic, wife Karen), and Matthew (Matt); daughters Mary Jo, Madonna (Donna, husband Robert Norris), Marla, and Marlene (Marty, husband Alan Danner); grandchildren William (Will, wife Jamie) and Michael (Mike) Lapoint, Robert (Bob) and Lacey Norris, Cole Anwiler, Tanner Crawley; step grandchildren Kristin and Anthony Gardelli, Shawn (wife Lindsey) and Stephanie Danner; and great granddaughter Kaylee Audibert, with another great grandchild on the way. He is also survived by brothers George (wife Algreta) and Bernard (wife Jean); sisters Deloris Chambers, Yvonne Schroer, Vivian Raines (husband Dorman), and Margaret (Marge) Stewart; and numorous nieces and nephews. To some of us he was an incredible father, to some of us he was a spectacular grandfather, to Mary he was the most loving husband, but to all of us he was an amazing friend. Memorial Service will be held Saturday, Novemeber 10, 2012, 10:00 AM at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 South Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, Colorado 80227. Please share your memories of Joe and condolences with his family by signing the Guestbook below.