Florence Schutter Bunker

Florence Schutter Bunker is an educator - teacher, counselor, friend. The embodiment of love, Florence has "been there" for countless children and families - listening, caring, guiding, believing, gently upholding and building on their strengths. We honor this gentle, caring woman and her work with children and families.

Florence Schutter Bunker was born October 2, 1928. Her parents were Bonno and Elsina Schutter. She grew up on her parents farm in northern Iowa-Kossuth County, Titonka, Iowa. Florence has two brothers and one sister. Herman, the older brother, lives with his wife Harriet in Mankato, Minnesota. Ardith, a younger sister, lives with her husband in Danbury, Connecticut. Arnold, a younger brother, lives with his wife in Titonka.

Florence attended rural school-first through eighth grades-and graduated from Titonka High School in 1946. Following graduation, she applied to attend Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Following one year of college, she was issued a Temporary Teaching: Certificate - signing a contract to teach third and fourth grades in Maple Hill, Iowa. She taught there for two years. In 1949 she was offered a contract to teach third grade at Gruver Consolidated. She remained in that school system for two years. During these first four years of her teaching, Florence attended summer school every summer to obtain her Two Year Standard Elementary Certificate. She attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Drake University in Des Moines, Luther College in Decorah, and Wartburg in Waverly. In 1952 Florence was hired as a third grade teacher with the Ames Public Schools. She taught third grade at Whittier School. The following year she transferred to Roosevelt School.

Florence married Richard Bunker in June of 1954. She continued teaching at Roosevelt School while her husband attended Iowa State University. She resigned at the end of the semester in 1955 to anticipate the arrival of her first son David, born April 10, 1955. That same year the family moved to Des Moines.

Florence signed a contract to teach fifth grade in West Des Moines. She taught there one year.(1955-1956) Mark, her second son, was born on October 16, 1956. Following the birth of Mark, the family moved to Pontiac, Michigan. In 1957 Florence signed a contract to teach third grade in Pontiac. She taught there one year.

The following eight years Florence taught fifth grade in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. On August 28,1961 her daughter Elizabeth was born. On June 18, 1964 Florence graduated with honors from Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. She earned her four year degree while teaching full-time by attending night classes classes on Saturday and summer sessions.
The Bunker family returned to Iowa in 1967 to live in Marshalltown. Florence signed a contract to teach fifth grade and her husband was a Guidance Counselor at Marshalltown High School. The following year Florence came back to Ames to teach while her husband attended Iowa State University. She taught fifth grade at Edwards School. On August 21, 1971 Florence graduated with a Master of Science degree from Iowa State University. To achieve this degree, she attended summer sessions and evening classes while teaching full time. Florence graduated with honors and with distinction.

In the Fall of 1973 she was offered a contract to be an Elementary Guidance Counselor. She held that position with the Ames Schools until she retired at the end of the school year in 1994.

Florence completed 46 years as an Educator of Children. She also taught numerous Parent Education classes. Florence is an active member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Honor Society International-Eta Chapter in Ames. The Society honors women who have given distinctive service in any field of Education.

7/11/94