Anne Elizabeth Kutak, ’62, 1937-2026
Anne Elizabeth Kutak
Anne Elizabeth Kutak passed away on April 6, 2026 at The Woodlands of DeWitt in DeWitt, Michigan. She was born in Chicago in 1937 and lived in Hammond, Indiana until 2015 when she had a stroke and moved to Michigan to be near her family and friends. She lived at Burcham Hills, in East Lansing, Michigan for eight years before moving to DeWitt.
Anne was known for her smile, which radiated joy to all who witnessed it (anyone who was kind to her). Some were also privileged to witness the classic Anne Kutak eye roll when she thought something was false or ridiculous. And she sported more blankets than anyone in either facility.
Anne graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in History in 1959 and in 1962 from the University of Chicago Law School. During this time, there were few women law students or lawyers. According to Anne, at orientation her freshman year, the college announced it would be holding its annual father-son brunch to honor all incoming freshman. (Anne and the one other woman in her class exchanged looks.) Also, according to Anne, just before graduation, a classmate of hers said they should get married; she could stay home and raise the kids. She replied, "What do you think I was doing in law school all these years?"
After passing the bar, Ms. Kutak was employed at Guarantee Reserve Life Insurance Company as Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel. She was honored in "Who's Who of American Women" as the first female general counsel of a life insurance company. During her career, she was also a member of the board of directors of the Salvation Army of Calumet Region, President of YWCA, the Treasurer of the South Shore Arts and the League of Women Voters.
Read more at Lansing State Journal