Mr. Peter John Kutches, age 85, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, May 15, 2019. Peter was the 10th child of 13, first generation born in Escanaba, Michigan on February 3, 1934 to John and Dorothy (Karabon) Kutches, immigrants from Croatia. He was a very private and humble man with a strong Christian faith and disciplinarian values.
He attended Escanaba Public Schools and graduated from Escanaba St. Joseph Catholic School. He was a three-sport athlete with All-State honors in football and basketball at St. Joseph. He was All-American in basketball and was the first athlete from the state of Michigan to participate in the North-South High School All-American basketball game in Murray, Kentucky.
Peter was given a football scholarship to the University of Wyoming where he went on to play three sports. He graduated in 1956 after competing in the NIT College Basketball Tournament, College Baseball World Series, and the Sun Bowl in 1952-1956. He had a contract with San Francisco 49ers but was drafted into the United States Army.
On September 29, 1956, Peter married Barbara O’Donnell, the love of his life for 62 ½ years. He was a man of strong family values that held his family, friends, and teams to the same standards. He pushed all to be successful in life as they were a part of his family.
Peter was a lifelong educator and coach. He was employed by Hudson, Muskegon, Muskegon Catholic, and Reeths Puffer Schools. He coached football, basketball, baseball, and track.
He loved and treated each of his players as his own children. Special teams for Peter include 1974, 1980, 1982 State Champion Muskegon Catholic Football teams and the 1992 Reeths Puffer Football State Championship team. He received numerous awards including the Michigan Upper Peninsula Hall of Fame, Michigan Football Coaches Hall of Fame, Muskegon Area Hall of Fame and the University of Wyoming Hall of Fame.
Peter was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Frank, Joseph (Gert), James, Anthony (Carol); sisters, Ann (William) Shea, Dora Kutches, Mary (Al) Kidd, Dorothy Ruth Kutches, Leona (Leo) Nolde, Elizabeth (Roger) Tourangeau; brothers-in-law, Mathew Snyder, Ron Carroll; and great-grandchild, Brecken Younts. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his five children, Karen (Brian) Johnson, Stephen (Carolyn) Kutches, Michael (Kimm) Kutches, Mark (Melissa) Kutches and Colleen (Greg) Bricker; 15 grandchildren, Stefanie (Jeffrey) Younts, Jennifer (Ryan) Buckley, Stacey (Bobby) Bruno, Brian (Jenna) Johnson, Mathew (Gillian) Kutches, James (Maria) Kutches, Peter (Taryn) Kutches, Cassandra, John, Zachary, Kylie, Aidan Kutches, Barbara Bricker, Amanda (Ryan) Irish, Gregory Bricker; 12 great-grandchildren, Makinley and Aslynn Younts, Brayden, Ella, Emelia Buckley, Charles, Sam, Grace, Remy, Parker, Brynn, and Thales Kutches; two sisters, Ruby Carroll and Judde Snyder; and many nieces and nephews. VISITATION will be from 5-8 PM Sunday, May 19, 2019 at The Lee Chapel, 6291 S. Harvey St., 231-798-1100 with a Scripture Service held at 7:00 PM.
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL will be celebrated 11:00 AM Monday, May 20, 2019 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church with VISITATION from 10-11AM. Rev. Charles Hall will be presiding.
Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Muskegon County Community Foundation or the Samuel Omogo Foundation. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Peter John Kutches please visit our Sympathy Store.
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