Vytautas Gutauskas

It is with deep sadness in our hearts that we notify relatives, friends, acquaintances, and particularly former pupils, that on 10 July 2016 our beloved Tete and Tetukas passed away peacefully at home. Saddened by the passing of this kind and dedicated man are daughters, Milda Šimaitis, along with husband Vytautas, and Vida Gutauskas; son, Audrius; grandchildren Vilija (Trevor Jorgensen) and Rimas Šimaitis, Nicholas and Alexa Gutauskas, and great-grandsons Zaibas and Vėjas Jorgensen; brother Algirdas Gutauskas and wife Nijole, sister-in- law Danutė Gutauskienė, and niece Lina Ančiukaitienė in Lithuania. Vytautas was a music teacher and choir leader. He was born April 5, 1921 in Leliūnai, near Utena, Lithuania. He graduated from the Marijampole Teachers’ Seminary. In 1945, during WWII, he emigrated to Germany where he organized a 65-member mixed choir and founded a men's choral group in Lubeck. Following his 1949 emigration to the United States, he organized a 25-member choir, and along with his wife, Ona, led a Lithuanian Scouting song and dance ensemble. In 1952, he participated in and was an inaugural board member of the Chicago Men's Choir, which eventually became the Chicago Lithuanian Opera Chorus. His passion for teaching led him, in 1958, to begin working in Lithuanian schools, initially accompanying various folk dance groups with his accordion. 21 years were spent teaching at K. Donelaičio Lithuanian School where he organized a large children's choir. He also served as deputy director and director of events. 15 years were spent leading the Marquette Park Lithuanian School children's ensemble. He fervently prepared children’s choirs for participation in Lithuanian Song Festivals held in the United States and Canada in 1966, 1971, and 1978, and was actively involved in both the repertoire as well as children's choir procedural arrangement committees. Vytautas also worked as a manager at Holy Cross Hospital for many years. In 1988, he and his wife retired to Harbert, MI, then later to Michiana, IN, where he continued to take part in the Lithuanian community, occasionally playing the organ during Lithuanian Mass at St. Ann of the Dunes Catholic Church in Beverly Shores. After the death of his wife in 2005, Vytautas relocated to Palos Hills, IL. Visitation will be July 16 from 9 a.m. until time of Mass at 10 a.m. at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church. Interment St. Casimir Cemetery. We invite friends and acquaintances to participate in this funeral.