Clarice Irene Hutmacher

Clarice Irene Hutmacher, 95, died Monday, February 22, 2016 at Manor Court in Freeport IL. Clarice was born on a farm south of Pearl City on November 6, 1920, the daughter of Emil and Addie (Wittenmyer) Butt. Clarice moved to Freeport in 1925 and attended Harlem school for 3 years. She then moved south of Freeport, attended and graduated from 8th grade from Elmwood School in 1934. Clarice attended Freeport High School graduating in 1938. She married Maurice Hutmacher on December 22, 1940 in Dubuque, Iowa. He died October 29, 2013, after nearly 73 years of marriage. Clarice and her husband farmed in Freeport, Lena and the Pearl City area until 1966. She was the first secretary - office manager to the former Stephenson Area Career Center and then the Stephenson County Probation Dept. retiring in 1983. Clarice was a member of Bethany United Church of Christ. She loved her Viking sewing-embroidery machine, making many beautiful quilts and things over the years. Besides being an accomplished seamstress she was a perfectionist when it came to crocheting and knitting. Making many beautiful sweaters and afghans. In the later years she knitted hundreds of pairs of children's mittens for the Salvation Army for Christmas. She was also a wonderful baker - cookies being a specialty and known as the "cookie grandma" to her family. The cookie jar had better be full when family came to visit - especially chocolate chip. She was also interested in genealogy finding two second cousins on her mother's side residing in Pennsylvania and five on her dad's side residing in Minnesota and Wisconsin. None knew of each other until she began delving into the family histories. She also found the graves of her great grandparents in Minnesota who she thought were buried in Germany. She is pre-deceased by her parents, husband, son David "Hooter" Hutchmacher and Sister Willa Taber. She is survived by two daughters, Karyn (Ron Buss) of San Juan Texas, and Roxine Bremmer of Freeport; six grandchildren, Jeff Buss. Michelle Saunders, Lori Miller, Tina Hutmacher, David and Michael Bremmer Also surviving are nine great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday March 2, 2016 at Burke Tubs Funeral Home. Rev. Bill Blomberg will officiate. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at Burke Tubbs. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery. Please sign the guest book and share a memory at www.burketubbs.com.