Howard L. Schutte

Hastings resident, Howard L. Schutte, 89, passed away Sunday, November 16, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family.

Rosary will be at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, November 20, at Butler Volland Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 21, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Hastings with Father Jeremy Hazuka officiating. Burial with military rites by Hastings Military Honor Guard will be at Parkview Cemetery. Visitation will be 1-7 p.m. with the family present from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, November 20, at the funeral home, and one hour before the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hastings Catholic Schools, St. Michael’s Church, American Heart Association, or the Apostles of the Interior Life. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Howard’s obituary and click the play button shown toward the bottom of the page. 

Howard was born on September 1, 1936, to Alois & Helen (Hlavac) Schutte in Lawrence, Nebraska. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1954 and attended Kearney State College for a short time and was employed by Mertens Auto Body Shop in Nelson, NE until 1959. He served in the U.S. Army from 1959-1961 in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO and Vincenza, Italy. He married Dolores “Dee” Himmelberg at Lawrence Sacred Heart Church on July 30, 1959. She joined him for an “extended honeymoon” in Vicenza, Italy for a year.

After serving in the Army, the family resided in Ravenna, NE, where Howard was employed by Boucher Chevrolet and later moved to Hastings and worked at Hastings Industries, PPG Industries, Weaver Glass, Hoffer Glass, and became owner of Howard’s Glass in 1987 until his retirement in 2006. Howard was an active member of St. Michael’s Church, Hastings Catholic Schools Activity Association, and Knights of Columbus 3rd and 4th Degrees. Howard enjoyed a game of cards, attending his kids and grandkids’ school activities, and tinkering at the cabin in Deweese for many years.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, George & Hilda (Kitten) Himmelberg; granddaughter, Bridget McWhirter; infant brother, Francis; brothers & spouses, Marion & Jeanne, Edwin, Paul & Willa, Ray & Phyllis, and Alois Jr.; sister-in-law, Karen Schutte; brothers-in-law & spouse, Gene Svoboda, Art Kitten, Ron Willmes, Jim Gleason, and Clyde & Joan Gleason.

Survived by:
Wife:
    Dee Schutte – Hastings, NE
Children & Spouses:
    Carla & Michael Mahoney – Denton, TX
    Marcia & Landyn Howell – Hastings, NE
    Nancy & Steve McWhirter – Hastings, NE
    Brad & Christy Schutte – Deweese, NE
    PJ & Vanessa Schutte – Murdoch, NE
Grandchildren:
    14
Great-Grandchildren:
    14
Step-Great Grandchildren:
    4
Brother:
    Don Schutte – Kearney, NE
Sisters:
    Ellen Kistler – Kearney, NE
    Marilyn Svoboda – Deweese, NE
    Carolyn Kitten – Hastings, NE
    Sharon Willmes – Roseland, NE
Sisters-in-law:
    Mary Schutte – Lawrence, NE
    Marie Cunningham – Florida
In-laws:
    Charleen Gleason
    Ken & Jean Himmelberg
    Ron & Susan Himmelberg
    Marty & Rebecca Himmelberg
    Marietta & Marvin Smidt
    Ginny & Al Bodenhamer
    Mike & Anita Himmelberg
And numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members