Robert Lee Gutschke

Robert Lee Gutschke, age 79, has gone home to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, September 28, 2025.

Robert was born in Ludington, MI on April 8, 1946, and later moved to Grand Rapids, MI.  He proudly served in the U.S. Army and later retired from the Army National Guard as a Platoon Sergeant. He was a longtime member of the American Legion Post 305 and St. Paul Lutheran Church. He spent many years in metal fabrication and welding and was a semi-truck driver during his career. He loved hunting and fishing and being outdoors. He gave up hunting in 2013 to haul grain in Nebraska at a friend's farm. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 56 years, Judy; children: Lisa and Byron Shore, Bill (fiancée Natalie Wright) Gutschke; grandchildren: Travis (fiancée, Shannon) Shore, Aubrey and Justin Hollman, Haylee and Caleb Jarchow, Caleb (fiancée, Darien Young) Gutschke; great grandchildren: Jaxon Hollman, Holland Hollman, Henley Hollman, Lainey Jarchow, Westin Jarchow, Malcolm Shore; mother, Viola Gutschke; siblings: Dennis and Penny Gutschke, David and Patsy Gutschke, Janice and Jay Moore; sister-in-law, Amy and Jay Olejniczak; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his great grandchildren: Walker Jarchow, Paisley Gutschke, Jacob Shore; father, Edward Gutschke; parents-in-law, Oral and MaryJane Stratton; sisters-in-law, Diane (Tom) Jensen, Lori Stratton.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, with Pastor David Miller officiating. Burial with military honors will be held at Fort Custer National Cemetery. Relatives and friends may visit the family on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, from 4-7 p.m. and also from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to the service at St. Paul Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church.