Obituaries

March 22, 1934 to May 23, 2023

WEST LAFAYETTE - Dr. Gilbert Gutwein, 89, of West Lafayette, passed away Tuesday, May 23.

Dr. Gilbert Gutwein

He was born March 22, 1934 in Francesville, to the late Adam and Lydia (Albrecht) Gutwein. He grew up in a busy home with siblings Margaret Leman (deceased), Harold, Adam Jr (deceased), Erven (deceased), Adeline Frey, and Elvira Lamp. Graduating from Francesville High School he later served in the U.S. Army 1956-1958. On April 17, 1971, he married Mary Jo McKinney in Otterbein, IN, and they recently celebrated 52 years of marriage.  

Together they raised their children to work hard: Andrew (Allyson), Peter (Katie), Chip (Katrina), Heidi (deceased), Melissa Gwin (Wil), Rebecca Wilcox. Nine Grandchildren: Tyler Gutwein and Jacqueline Lyons (Will); Kayla Gutwein; Rebecca, Jessica, and Tom Gwin (Leah); Patrick and Aaron Wilcox (Ashley) and Nichole Collum (Jim); and seven Great-Grandchildren: Diana Lyons; Carl and Titus Gwin; Makayla Wilcox; Remi and Olive Wilcox; and James Collum.

Dr. Gutwein took his parents’ admonition to keep busy to heart whether in his professional life as orthopedic surgeon at Lafayette Orthopedic Clinic; learning to fly and catch a birds-eye view of God’s creation; working the Indiana State Fair Pioneer Village; crafting his many wood working pieces or completing all the Eagle Scout requirements. His dedication to his profession led him to serve the community through the AAOS, ISMA Indiana Orthopedic Society, AMA; on staff at Home Hospital and St. Elizabeth Hospital and chairman of Orthopedic Department of Home Hospital for 22 years. His love of traveling took him to many distant lands including: Germany, Switzerland, and Vienna; Australia and New Zealand; Russia, Mongolia, China and Tibet; and the 2004 Gutwein Family Tour to their homeland in Austria/Hungary.

Friends and family are invited to gather on Friday, May 26 at Tippecanoe Memory Garden’s chapel in West Lafayette. Visitation is 9 to 11 a.m., followed by the service at 11 a.m. officiated by Dennis Gutwein.

Dr. Gutwein asked  that memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, be used to better people’s lives. Having lived with Crohn’s Disease since he was 17, he requested that donations be made to Mayo Clinic Crohn’s Research and Development and mailed to, 200 First Street SW, Rochester MN 55905.