Clifford Denton Schutjer, a former minister of First Congregational Church in Mansfield, recently passed away peacefully in Norman, Oklahoma, with Patricia Schutjer, his wife of 62 years by his side. He had been suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.
Cliff was born in 1936 in Tomah, Wisconsin to Tena and Martin Schutjer and grew up, along with his older sister Bethel and younger sister Marlys, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, where Martin was a minister in the Church of God (Anderson).
Cliff attended Anderson College in Anderson, Indiana followed by Union Theological Seminary in NYC. He married his seminary classmate Pat in 1962, and they began their life together in Mansfield, Ohio, where he had accepted a position as an assistant minister at the First Congregational Church. Within the next several years, Cliff was promoted to senior minister and their three children—Bryan, Karin, and Kristi—were born.
Cliff loved his job and his congregation beyond words, embracing every aspect of running the church—from the sermons to the music, to the programming, to the pastoral care and counseling. He had many career highlights including the publication of two collections of sermons, serving as a guest preacher at Riverside Church in New York City in 1989, and an honorary doctorate from Piedmont College in 2004. But by far his greatest honor was the role he played in the lives of so many individuals and families through the decades, in their times of both happiness and need.
Cliff was also extremely active in civic and community life. A partial list of the many community organizations he served—either as board member or in leadership—includes Planned Parenthood, Third Street Clinic, City Charter Commission, Regional Planning Commission, MedCentral Hospital, Richland County Foundation, Rehab Center, and Rotary Club. He had a strong creative and musical side and served as a co-writer for (and performer in) the Town Roast for many years; played trumpet in a local band; sang in church and for fun; and entertained friends and family on the piano and, on occasion, with his musical saw.
Cliff retired in 2007 after 46 years at the church. He and Pat moved to Arizona in 2012 and to Oklahoma in 2020 to be close to family.
Cliff is survived by his loving family: his wife Patricia; by his children Bryan (Annette) Schutjer of Culver, IN, Karin Schutjer (Ben Alpers) of Norman, OK, Kristi Schutjer (Alphonso Mance) of Alameda, CA; by seven grandchildren; and many other dear relatives. He was predeceased by his parents and his sisters.
A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 1 PM November 16th at the First Congregational Church in Mansfield, with organ music beginning at 12:30 PM For those who wish to make a gift in Cliff’s memory, the family suggests the Third Street Family Health Services Endowment Fund through the Richland County Foundation or the First Congregational Church, organ fund.