The Honorable Douglas Lynn Gutwein, Indiana State Representative, Retired, 75, of Cary, NC, formerly of Francesville, passed away last week after a year-long battle with cancer.
Douglas, fondly known as Doug to all, was born on April 4, 1948 to the late Clarence and Jane [Snedeker] Gutwein in Francesville. After Doug graduated from Francesville High School in 1966, he attended Ball State University before deciding to join the US Army and serve his country. Doug was stationed in Germany until receiving his orders for Vietnam where he drove a mail truck for the Army. He found himself traveling the dangerous roads between military bases ensuring that his comrades were able to stay connected to home and with their loved ones.
After his honorable service in Vietnam, Doug returned to Francesville and worked for the United States Postal Service as a mail carrier in Valparaiso,. Doug then moved to Santa Ana, CA where he lived and worked as a mail carrier before moving to San Clemente, CA where he met Mary Lewis Finley. They were married in 1979 in Mary Lew’s hometown of Georgetown, KY. Doug moved his new bride back to his hometown of Francesville where the family made their home. Doug adopted Mary Lew’s daughter, Mary, and in 1980, the couple welcomed another daughter into their lives, Lucy Jane.
Doug was a small business owner and ran a steel wheel manufacturing company (known as FTC Products for many years. Although successful in business,
Doug’s true love was service to others. He was elected to the Francesville Town Board where he served as Town Board President (aka “The Mayor”). Among Doug’s many achievements during his tenure in this role was the expansion of the Francesville Library – an accomplishment he was most proud of.
In 2008, Doug’s commitment to service continued when he was elected to the Indiana State House of Representatives. For fourteen years, he faithfully served the citizens of District 16. Doug prided himself on attending every Lincoln Day Dinner, every fish fry, every pancake breakfast, and every pork chop dinner in the district. He was a fixture in local parades - with his golf cart proudly adorned with Old Glory, the Indiana State Flag, and the POW/MIA Flag and Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to Be an American” blaring from the speakers. He rarely answered messages from his constituents in text or e-mail, electing instead to call them personally. He loved his district and the people in it too much to do any less. Among the many committees Doug served on were the Veterans Affairs Committee, the Committee to Reduce Government Waste, and the Labor Committee where, in his role as Chairman, he regularly made use of an egg-timer to ensure everyone had their voices heard during his committee meetings.
Doug only sponsored or co-sponsored bills that truly meant a lot to him. Ambition was not his passion - veterans, rural communities, and babies were where his heart lay. He championed several bills, all aimed at making the lives of veterans better, helping the rural communities that he loved, and “saving those little babies” with bills like Graham’s Law and Bryce’s Bill. His tenacity in pursuing bills that were important to him earned him the reputation of being “charmingly cantankerous” amongst his peers. He was a lifelong member of the Republican Party; but for all who knew him, his legislative agenda was not partisan - it was for the good of all Hoosiers.
After retiring from office in 2022, Doug and Mary Lew began the process of closing that chapter of their life in Indiana and moving to North Carolina to be with family and grandchildren. While his retirement was regrettably short, the time spent in North Carolina was precious and filled with watching cheer competitions, football and baseball games, and working on making their new home feel like their only home. Doug was a fierce lover of his family and doted on all of his grandchildren, who gave him so much joy.
Doug was an amazing friend and mentor to many. He was a man who loved his “projects”, having the best grass in town, sipping gas station coffee with his friends, and telling fun stories and jokes by “Granddaddy’s pool” until long after the sun went down. Over the final months of his life, numerous friends shared many touching stories of how he impacted their lives, how he had never met a stranger, and how much joy his infectious and excellent sense of humor brightened every room he entered.
Doug is preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Jane Gutwein; a son-in-law, Chris Eads (who was married to Mary); his brothers, Bob Gutwein (who passed earlier this year) and Ron Gutwein (who Doug worked to have the bridge on I-65 over the Wabash River named in memory of Ron’s valorous service as a two-tour helicopter pilot in Vietnam and for Medivac services once returning home).
Doug is survived by his wife, Mary Lew Gutwein; and their three children, Jeff Blewett and his wife Jennifer, Mary Gutwein Eads, and Lucy Gutwein Schuetz and her husband David; his seven beloved grandchildren, Alex, Finley, Jake, Elisha, Jordan, Jacob, and Jenna; and his two brothers, Don Gutwein and his wife, Judy and Rich Gutwein and his wife, Pat. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. EST Friday, December 8, 2023 at the Apostolic Christian Church, 210 US 421 Francesville, with ministers of the church officiating.
Burial with military honors will take place at Roseland Cemetery in Francesville.
Visitation is available two hours prior to services at the church on Friday.
Memorial contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans (DAV) or The Wounded Warrior Project.
Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel in Francesville.
