Obituaries : Debra Ann (Kimm) Schutterle

Debra Ann (Kimm) Schutterle, beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt and grandmother, died Thursday, February 3, 2022, after a brief but fierce battle with cancer.

Born on December 5, 1955 in Cedar Rapids, Deb resided in Watkins with her husband of 37 years, Paul Schutterle. To describe Deb in one sentence would be to say that she was a lover of the simple, but truly important, things. She loved her family: daily phone calls with her children and sister, Karen. She found solace in camping, fishing and evening drives with Paul. She enjoyed watching the many bird feeders outside her windows and the beautiful creatures that flocked to them. She doted over her five grandchildren, and would go wherever they were living to see and support them. And she loved her hometown of Watkins; when the powerful derecho storms of 2020 swept through the Midwest and destroyed their home, she wept and mourned, then promptly rebuilt where she and Paul had raised a family and built a life together. Deb found endless pleasure and healing in decorating their new home, proudly hanging photos of those she loved, displaying mementos, and a little sign which summed it all up: "Let's Be Homebodies." Deb was generous with friends, family and neighbors, always quick to deliver a meal or her famous Texas sheet cake. She puttered in her well-tended flower gardens every chance she could; she filled her home with plants; and she doted on her dogs, Mindy, Katie and Frankie. Deb treasured being a grandma and adored the unique talents of each of her five grandchildren: Emerson's prowess at volleyball; Graycen's joy at cheer; Nash's hockey skills; Cameren's love of archery and Kelsey's cheerleading. The family joked that only those beloved grandchildren could convince a homebody to travel as far as California and Virginia.

Deb is survived by her husband, Paul Schutterle; her son, Shannon (Amy) Ehrmann; daughter, Michele (Marty) Wilford; her seven grandchildren; her siblings, Kevin (Sandy), Claudia, Tom (Lori), Karen (Dave), and Bill; her many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was proceeded in death by her mother, Garlyn Kimm; her dear father figure, Clarence Kramer; her in-laws, Leroy and Jean Schutterle, her nephew, Dustin Stoddard and cousins, Wendy Ballard and Timmy Brecht.

Deb passed away in the care of her devoted medical team at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Service is 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at Hrabak-Neuhaus Funeral Service, Belle Plaine, IA. Burial will take place at Mound Cemetery, Watkins, IA.

Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Monday, February 7, 2022 at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the family. 

Brosh Funeral Service of Norway is assisting the family.