John ‘Johnny’ James Shute

He was born November 20, 1933, to Mike and Mary Shute of Calumet.

Even though he’d spent most of his life away, as with anyone from the Copper Country, his heart was still home.

Johnny’s last discussions were of the Bar (Shute’s Tavern), working with his Pa and his brother Bernard. Johnny was also a fireman with the Calumet Village Fire Department. He recalled a fire alarm at the bottom of the stairs, that would go off when both brothers still lived at home, upstairs of the bar. Johnny recalled that Bernard would throw his white coat on, because he was chief, and Johnny had a black coat.

Johnny’s eyes sparkled as he recalled when he ran his car off the road and how Uno Isaacson came and helped pull it out. Said Uno never leaked a word to Bernie, that Uno was a good man. He recalled the early morning fresh baking smells from Thurner’s Bakery. He talked of his dog that he buried on the side of the bar, next to the garden. How he covered the grave with Rhubarb leaves. Walks along the beach picking up special stones and spending summers in Eagle Harbor.

Johnny talked about how his father was stern, but had kind eyes and was funny, that his sisters were good girls. He remembered the hundreds of jars, stacked on shelves in the basement; jars that his mother canned from their gardens, and all the meals she would cook.

Johnny attended Calumet Schools, worked at the bar and for the Village Street Department.

In 1953, he enlisted in the army, was assigned to the 756th Transportation Railway Shop Battalion and deployed to the Korean peninsula to serve for other Railway Battalions.

Johnny said that he had the same job in Korea, that he had on the Calumet Village Street Department, he drove a snowplow truck.

After the army he again worked at the bar, and then landed a position with Lockheed Martin, Los Angeles, California. By his mid 40s, Johnny was briefly paralyzed by a hit and run car accident, but being from the Copper Country, he had the endurance to pull through and was able to live independently in Glendale, California. Then finally moving to Las Vegas.

Johnny was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary and Bernice; brother, Bernard and Frank, and nephew Michael Taylor.

Survivors include his sister Clara Shute Taylor; nieces and nephews Kathryn Teare, Mary Kaye Crenshaw, Jim Taylor, Joy Menze, Penny Menze, Kim Menze, Gina Menze and many grand nieces and nephews.

The Shute Family would like to express our appreciation and much gratitude to Chaplain Jeff Barton, and all at Nathan Adelson Hospice – You completed our family and cared for our loved one during his time of need. Thank you also to the kind and caring staff at “We-Care Group Home,” Las Vegas, NV. Joe Battisfore of Houghton V.A., for not leaving John’s records behind and Tim Ryan for arranging our Brother and Uncle home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 4, 2021, at 12 noon at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Calumet with Rev. Fr. Gracious Pulimoottil to officiate. Burial will follow Mass at Lake View Cemetery Section P.

Friends may call at the Ryan Funeral Home from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.

Interment to follow at Lake View Cemetery.