Mary Ruth Schmutzler, former editor of the Deerfield Independent, died on Jan. 18 in Shawano, following a long illness. She was 73.
Born on March 14, 1949, to Orvin and Ileen Evrard in Oconto Falls, she graduated with honors from Oconto Falls High School and was a National Merit Finalist and was a delegate to the Badger Girls State leadership conference. In 1971, she earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from UW-Madison.
After graduating, she was named editor of the Deerfield Independent, and in January 1972, she wed Dean Schmutzler in Beaver Dam. The couple had two daughters, Lynn and Tracy.
In 1974, they moved to Green Bay, where Mary became the news editor for the Catholic Diocese newspaper The Spirit.
Mary and Dean worked together on several businesses, including publishing the Northeast Wisconsin edition of the Builder/Architect magazine.
