Kenneth Schutt

Kenneth William “Pop-Pop” “Big Guy” Schutt passed away on Monday, May 1, 2017, after years long battles with cancer. He was 68.

Ken was the youngest child of Elsie and Fredrick Schutt. Ken and his twin, Marilyn were born on November 8, 1948, in Hollis, Queens, New York, 120-20 205th Place, (prematurely and at home to a very surprised Mom and Dad). Brother Fred (May 20, 1947) and sister Evelyn (June 2,1942) welcomed you. We were then a loving and lively family of six.

Ken was the baby of the family, not only in terms of age, but also in stature, as he did not outgrow his twin sister until adulthood. He was a defiant child, he never did what his older bother wanted him to do, until he beat him up. That is where the scar on Ken’s cheek appeared, when Fred had to get Ken’s attention with a thrown shovel. That moment sparked a closeness that lasted though the years, with only the slightest hints of sarcasm and buffoonery between the two.

He graduated from PS 134 Queens in 1962, as a decorated student with a 3rd place Science Fair award in 3rd grade (1956). Ken graduated from East Meadow High School in 1966. He also earned a Associate in Applied Science Degree from SUNY-Ag & Tech in 1973.

Ken served honorably in the United States Air Force from 1968-1973. He was a distinguished aircraft maintenance technician, stationed in Texas and California. Included in his time on active duty were many victorious battles against the ridiculous and oft-boneheaded ploys of USAF pilots, who seemed desperate to break any and all aircraft he meticulously cared for.

After his career in the USAF, Ken was hired at IBM and then at Reming Office Products, in Sacramento, CA. He married his first wife Robyn Roles, in 1973, endearing himself to a new family that loved him more than he knew. They had 2 children (Steven James Schutt – 1975, Waneta Arlene Schutt Lamas – 1977) and lived under comforting noise of Phoenix Field Airport in Fair Oaks, CA. Ken fostered his love of aviation with frequent rides in local news aircraft, befriending not only the pilots, but also the radio hosts of those stations. He continued his hobby as an amateur mechanic in his off-time, fixing not only late 70’s model Jeeps and Broncos, but early 80’s model Huffy’s in the driveway of their home. He also introduced his oldest child to the unbridled joy of NASCAR, the NFL and the Wide World of Sports, while spoiling his youngest child with kisses, hugs and epic games of miniature golf. Ken and Robyn divorced in 1984.

Ken continued his career with Reming throughout the 80’s and 90’s. He was a rock in the middle of a family; a father figure to his niece, a comfort to his mother, and a confidant to his sister. As Marilyn recalled, one November, long ago Mom went to the Baker to order a Birthday Cake. It read, “Happy Birthday Ken 43 and Marilyn 37”. Being a twin was always so much fun. Despite the known advances of science in the late 20th century, it remained a mystery how Ken aged twenty years while Marilyn remained a lovely 39 years old.

One of his defining moments came during this time. Ken knew the difference between lips in the sand and “lips in the sand” with his adventures to Dylan’s Beach, CA. This maybe where he learned his first of many (animal) second languages. He could speak clam, dog (with the occasional tongue scratching), pelican, and a multitude of other animals, most would shake their heads at. Ken had an innate ability to connect with humans and animals; he just “got” us—all of us.

Ken remarried in 1998, (by the sheer grace of God to someone so far out of his league that it still remains a remarkable achievement to this day) to Linda Crichton, from Illinois. They moved to the metropolis of Spicewood, TX in 1999.

He maintained his amateur mechanic status by repairing and maintaining a 1949 tractor that enamored him with the neighborhood and endeared him even more to his wife. Ken and Linda embarked on several adventures, near and far from their Spicewood home. During these journeys, Ken had become an Alaskan lumberjack, a Texas semi-pro fisherman, and an Oklahoman amateur after-hour go-kart racer.

Ken was a life-long NASCAR, NHRA, boat racing, and Dallas Cowboys fan. He was only a part-time Chicago Bears fan. He was a secret Atlanta Braves fan, Hockey fan, and one-time fantasy baseball player.

Ken was a wonderfully engaging, caring, charismatic, flawed, generous, humble, intelligent, stubborn, friendly, funny, and encouraging human being. He was an incredible father, an amazing husband, an inspiring uncle, a hilarious grandfather, a New York redneck cowboy, the missing son of an Illinois farming family, and a man who gave the world light.

He will always be in our hearts and memories and was part of our lives for 68 incredible years. There was the wonderful smile, the delightful jokes, the sensitivity, the love for us all, kindness, helpfulness, an understanding and appreciation for all things mechanical, and an uncanny ability to fix everything, sometimes when they didn’t even need fixing. He made people around him and the world better. As we all should strive to do.

He is survived by his wife, Linda, his son, Steve, his daughter, Neta, three amazing grandchildren, Jarret, Mackenzie and Troy Kenneth (T.K.), two adventurously goofy dogs, Kasey and Chase, and a yet-to-be-captured squirrel that still torments the bird feeder in the backyard. In lieu of flowers, donations are asked to be made to www.patriotpaws.org.

Military Honors to be rendered.