Ferdinand Albert Louis Schutte, 91, of Smithton, died Tuesday, March 12, 2013, at Bothwell Regional Health Center, Sedalia.  He was born on May 11, 1921, on the family farm in rural Benton County south of Cole Camp near Zora, a son of Bernhardt and Louise (Koeller) Schutte.   On May 22, 1921, he was baptized at home by Rev. Ernest Robert of Mt. Hulda Lutheran Church.  After his mother died, his baptismal sponsor, Fritz Koeller, was instrumental in raising him along with his grandparents.  On April 14, 1935, he was confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Sedalia, where he was a life-long member.   He graduated from Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia in May of 1939.  From 1938-1939, he worked at Griffit Grocery, until he was drafted.  He served his country honorably in the 1445 Ordinance Company of the United States Army Air Corps during World War II and received four bronze stars.  In the service, he didn't receive basic training, but landed on the beach in France on June 8, and fought in combat from the beach to central Germany.   On December 27, 1942, in Omaha, Nebraska, he was united in marriage to Nola Marie Montgomery, who preceded him in death on October 2, 2000.  This union was blessed with five children, George, Betty, Nancy, Warren, and Barbara.  After his discharge from the Army, he returned to Sedalia and worked for a wholesale company, Sedalia Cash and Carry.  They lived in Sedalia until 1950, when they moved to Nola's family farm near Smithton.   In 1951, he started working as a salesman for Kellogg's.  While with Kellogg's, he trained all the salesmen from Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.  Toward the end of his career, he sold mostly to institutions and state contracts, instead of the many local grocery stores he had started out selling to.  He enjoyed his job with Kellogg's Company and after 26 years, retired from there as an account manager in 1978.  He refused all promotions offered him that would require him to move to the city because he wanted to raise his five children on the farm.   After retiring from Kellogg's, he enjoyed making walnut and cedar furniture for his wife, children, and grandchildren, from bedroom suites to desks to cabinets.  As he finished one project, he would say, "Bring me a picture of what you want." and the next project would begin.   He is survived by:  two daughters, Betty Brauer and her husband Harry and Barbara Schnakenberg and her husband Daryl, all of Smithton;             two sons, George Schutte and his wife Sharron of Lehigh, Kansas, and Warren Schutte and his wife Linda of Cole Camp; one son-in-law, Bill Webb of Independence; one sister-in-law, Verna Schutte of Cole Camp; twelve grandchildren, Robin Nyegard, Karen Staus, James Brauer, Deena Beckett, Bethany Konecne, Lyn Michael, Jill Webb, Anna Webb, Audrey Webb, Michael Schnakenberg, Jacob Schnakenberg, and Ben Schnakenberg; three step-grandchildren, Patrick Troxel, Sherilyn Troxel, and Darrin Hartman; twenty-eight great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.   Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Nancy Webb, four sisters, Annie Haase, Emma Wilshusen, Rosie (Tillie) Haase, and Dora Haase, and two brothers, Amos Schutte and Friedrich Schutte.   Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 15, 2013, at St. Paul's  Lutheran Church, Sedalia, with Pastor Jeremy Freeman officiating.  Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery, Sedalia, with military honors by the American Legion Post No. 305 of Cole Camp.   A prayer service will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2013, at the Fox Funeral Home in Cole Camp, with visitation to follow.   The family suggests memorial contributions be given to St. Paul's Lutheran Church Building Fund or the donor's choice of charity in care of the Fox Funeral Home, Cole Camp.   Pallbearers will be Mike Schnakenberg, Jake Schnakenberg, Ben Schnakenberg, James Brauer, Allen Konecne, Tony Beckett, and James Staus.  Honorary pallbearers will be Paul Culp, Jr., Rudy Rehmer, G. W. Meyer, and Harold Franklin.

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