Ellen Ann Schuettpelz

DE PERE – Ellen Ann (Cavil) Schuettpelz, 76, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, March 24, 2023 with her family by her side as she lost her acute battle with cancer. A former resident of Green Bay WI and Lena WI, she moved with her husband to the Town of Ledgeview near East De Pere in 2005 so they could be closer to their families.

Ellen was born in Green Bay WI on March 7, 1947, daughter of the late Roland “Rollie” and Gladys (Harteau) Cavil. Ellen was a 1965 graduate of De Pere High School. On May 5, 1973 she married Alvin “Al” Schuettpelz at Bethel Lutheran Church in Green Bay. They were able to spend over 50 very enjoyable, absolutely wonderful years together.

Ellen was a devoted wife and proud mom, grandma, great grandma and talented business person. She really enjoyed taking care of her two youngest granddaughters, Braleigh and Brightyn. They went to many school activities, parades, museums, playgrounds, beaches and other interesting tourist activities. Many, many times, their parents and her husband went with them.

She also loved to cook and having the families over at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Ceramics, crafts and working in her flower garden were also very enjoyable moments in her life, especially looking after the new varieties she planted every year.

While living in Lena, she worked 28 years as a multiline underwriter for Maple Valley Mutual Insurance Company. She also traveled to many large cities (some 3 to 4 times) all over the United States and Canada with her husband while attending conventions and other educational events of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), Wisconsin Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (WAMIC) and Town Mutual Services, Inc. She was awarded the WAMIC Distinguished Service Award with her husband during their 2019 Annual Convention for all the contributions they made to the mutual insurance industry from 1973 through 2019. From 1982 to 2000, she also traveled many, many times to New York state while her husband was on the board of directors and Chairman of the Board from April 1990 to April 1992 for Guilderland Reinsurance Company, a reinsurance carrier located near Albany NY with operations in 9 states.

She was also a member of the Lena Women’s club serving as President for a year. She even found time to help her husband with the Lena Community Development Corporation (aka Lena Civic Club), the local business association in the Lena Area. In 1984, when her husband was President of this organization, she helped him organize and worked on the Committee that established the annual event for the Lena area known as the Lena Dairyfest with the first one being held on September 8,1985. When her husband served as Manager of this organization from 1989 to 2009, she helped him organize the annual banquets that honored many Lena area residents for all their contributions to the Lena area. She was also a member of the Lena American Legion Auxiliary for a number of years.

When her family moved to the East De Pere area, she was able to continue her work with the Brown County Fair Association that started back in 2002 and included 6 years as a member of their Board of Directors. During her 20 years of service with this organization, she was able to follow in her Father’s, Rollie Cavil, footsteps in regard to his talent and ability to put together flowers and plants to transition the Fair Grounds into a welcoming experience. She chaired the Beautification Committee during this process. She also led the Courtesy Car’s Driver Team, collected Coggins’ tests for the Rodeo and Horse Pulling Contestants and also worked at the entry gate to welcome and greet the contestants for the Tractor and Truck Pulls and Demo Derby. Her time with this organization ended when she decided not to run for re-election as a Director at the October 2021 Board meeting.

She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Al; son, Chad (Lisa) Schuettpelz of De Pere WI; grandchildren, Braleigh and Brightyn Schuettpelz, Sarah (Adam) Fidler of Denmark, Becca (Jake) Liebers of Green Bay; great-grandchildren, Jackson Fidler, Camille and Camryn Liebers; siblings, Sue (Paul) Bougie of De Pere and Kathy (Gary) Ambrosius of De Pere; sister-in law, Naomi Bahrke of Ashwaubenon; two brothers-in-law, Dennis Schuettpelz of Suring and Alger (Althea) Schuettpelz of St. Peters MO; nieces, nephews and other family.

She was preceded in death by her parents Rollie and Gladys Cavil, infant brother, Kevin Lee in 1966; and brother-in-law, Donald Bahrke.

Per Ellen’s wishes, there will be private family services held in her honor. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cotterfuneralhome.com. A celebration of her life for family and close friends will be held at a later date.

The Schuettpelz family would like to thank Amritha Karkera, MD, the staff at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic and the staff at Unity Hospice.