Douglas A. Kutschat

Douglas A. Kutschat, 86, of Grand Rapids, MN, passed away peacefully at his home on November 9, 2025, with family by his side.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services. Services will be held at 11:00 on Monday, November 17, 2025, at Bethany Lutheran Church, Deer River, MN. Burial will follow at Pine Ridge Cemetery with a luncheon to follow.

Douglas was born April 29, 1939, in Albert Lea, MN, to Walter and Angeline Kutschat. He was raised in Southern Minnesota and Eastern Iowa. He had a younger sibling, Steve. Douglas was a 1957 graduate of Oelwein High School. Then, he attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. He was a member of the Wartburg Choir, which he had the opportunity to tour with in Europe. He graduated from Wartburg in 1962. Then he started his music teaching career at Plainfield Community Schools, where he met Joanne. In 1964, Douglas began teaching music at the Rockford Community School District. He taught there for 34 years until he retired in 1996. During his summers, Douglas worked with two other teachers to do construction work and build houses.

Douglas and Joanne were married on July 28, 1963. They were blessed with two children, Jim and Anne. Together, Douglas and Joanne shared almost 57 years of marriage before Joanne passed away in 2020.

After Douglas retired, they moved to Northern Minnesota. Douglas began building his home on Deer Lake. He joined the Blandin Men’s Chorus, which he also directed for a few years. Douglas was also a member of Bethany Lutheran Church and Choir. He sang in the choir and directed the choir for a few years.

He is survived by his son, Jim (Michelle) Kutschat; his daughter, Anne (Cortney) Webber; his granddaughter, Jessica Kutschat (Tony Riehle); his brother, Steve (Paulette) Kutschat; his sister-in-law, Gloria Moon; his nieces, nephews; many extended relatives; and his special caretaker, Natasha Hibler.

Douglas is preceded in death by his wife, Joanne; his parents, Walter and Angeline; his granddaughter, Stephanie Kutschat; several brothers and sisters-in-laws.

The family extends a heartfelt thank you to Essentia Health Hospice for the compassion and care they provided during Douglas’s last days.

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