Fred Beutler grew up with his parents Fern and Clayton, older brother Cliff, and younger sister Mary, next door to his grandparents Earl and Lena St. John. When young, Fred helped in his grandparents' store on the corner of Coleman and Brinton Roads as well as helping his great uncles Buck and Red Sowles around the Farm and with their many hunting dogs. He spent countless hours fishing and hunting and remained an accurate shot well into his senior years. Later in life he said he and Cliff’s fast cars and motorcycles were the reason his Grandpa thought the store’s gas tanks leaked and the beer delivery had been miscounted. He graduated from Weidman High School in 1967, worked for Dow in Midland, Oldsmobile in Flint, the garage in Barryton, eventually joining UA Local 190 Plumbers and Pipefitters. He graduated Washtenaw Community College and took his journeyman's test in 1979. He was a proud journeyman pipefitter welder and even after retirement he remained the “boss” for the rest of his 77 years.

If Fred wasn’t out on the road being a gas distribution pipeline welder for Local 190 he could be found in his garage whistling to the radio and working on a big block motor. He liked to look for old Harley and Chevy parts at swap meets, go to the drag strip, read old Smokey Yunick racing books, and hot rod magazines. His knowledge of anything with a motor and a couple wheels was truly impressive. While flirting with a nurse recently he described his bike as a 1962 Stroker Panhead that would go 60mph in 1st gear, 90 in 2nd gear, 120 in 3rd, and 4th gear he just called blurry.

He is survived by his Children Samantha Jo Beutler (Nathan Vanderloo) of Sanford and Joseph Clayton Beutler (Ashley Spaugh) of Lake, his grandchildren Josephine and Ben Vanderloo, his sister Mary Beutler of Lansing, his 3 nieces Missy (Marty) Block, Chrissy Beutler, and Alexis Beutler, and many cousins and friends. Fred loved kids, they were always welcome in the garage, on errands to the bank, parts stores, or if he was just going up to Denny or Tom’s he was happy to have them along. If they did get to be too much he never let on, he would just give them a task like pick up all the pears under the pear tree for the deer and count them, or hand you a can of chevy orange spray paint and tell you one of your bikes could use another coat of paint. He loved and was proud of his children.

He was preceded in death by his parents Clayton and Fern Beutler, both his brother and sister-in-law Cliff and Maxine Beutler, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and many Friends.

Fred was quick to smile and make a joke. He was a proud man that could always be counted on to give his opinion. He was an eternal flirt, right up to the end. He was a good friend and an even better father. Fred was beloved and he will be missed. He left all who knew him with a story and a smile.

A Celebration of Life with a Graveside service will be held at a future date.