Robert C. McNutt

Robert (Bob) McNutt passed away peacefully on December 28, 2025 with his children and their spouses by his side. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 1,1937 to the late Thomas Ford and Virginia Curtis McNutt, he attended college preparatory at The Leelanau School in Glen Arbor, MI and then Denison University in OH.

Bob married his high school sweetheart (Sukie) in '59 and entered the family business; Wolverine Tractor and Equipment Co. started by his father (which he ultimately championed with his son, Mike). Concurrently with this early career, he was active in the Michigan Air National Guard. During his lengthy career at Wolverine, he held many construction industry leadership positions including President of the Associated Equipment Distributors and Director of its Government Affairs Committee where he could frequently be spotted on Capitol Hill lobbying for nationwide increased infrastructure appropriations.

Bob's passion was his high school alma mater, The Leelanau School. He contributed his time, energy, leadership, and fund-raising skills to perpetuate their fruition and provide youth with the coveted experiences and education he and Sukie had in their years there. He was known as "Mr. Leelanau" on campus, named Chairman Emeritus in 2016, and loved spending time with the students, faculty, alumni and Board of Trustees, all the while frequently wearing his '55 varsity letter sweater on campus.

Bob is survived by his son Mike (Heather) and daughter Heidi Paterson (Don), grandchildren Stephanie Nahrstadt (Benny), Stuart, and niece, Michelle McNutt. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Susanne (Sukie), his beloved brother Col. Thomas (Tom) McNutt and sister-in-law (Sally), their son Thomas (Tom), in-laws June and Morton Spence and brothers-in-law Mike and Jeff Spence.

He was a devout Christian, devoted to his sweetheart Sukie, engaging and encouraging to all he met with joyous smile and a bear hug. He was a leader amongst his peers, and lived life fully and actively finding joy in his children, grandchildren, skiing, sailing, golfing, a construction equipment career and The Leelanau School purpose. His encouraging words, optimism and engaging personality will be sorely missed by his family and all whom he encountered.

No service is currently planned. Please consider honoring Bob with a contribution to The Leelanau School's Bob and Sukie McNutt Scholarship Fund found directly at https://leelanau.org/bobmcnutt or donate by emailing development@leelanau.org or calling (231) 334-580