Harvey F. Beutner

Former Professor at Illinois Wesleyan, Harvey F. Beutner, Dies at 80

April 7, 2003

Harvey F. Beutner, who was a professor of English and journalism at Illinois Wesleyan University from 1964 to 1988, died Friday (April 4) at age 80 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Beutner started at IWU in 1964 and retired at the end of the 1987-88 academic year, earning professor emeritus standing upon his retirement. He was the 1976-77 Century Club honoree.

During his tenure at Illinois Wesleyan he taught 10 different journalism courses, expository writing, and such varied literature courses as satire and 18th Century literature. He also served as faculty adviser for The Argus, the IWU student newspaper, and as editor of the Iris, a journal of literature and photography dedicated to James Montgomery, editor of The Sheffield Iris and the subject of Beutner’s dissertation.. He helped reestablish the Illinois College Press Association in 1983.

A native of LaPorte, Ind., Beutner graduated from Valparaiso University in 1949 and received master’s degrees in both journalism and English from Northwestern University, where he also earned his doctorate in English in 1967.

A Navy veteran with five years’ service in World War II and the Korean conflict, Beutner spent three years at sea – two aboard a Landing Craft Infantry, Large in the Pacific and one aboard an ocean-going tug in the Atlantic.

Prior to joining the IWU faculty, Beutner worked as a newspaper reporter on the Danville, Ill., Commercial News, taught at Stetson University in Deland, Fla., and was an editor for Follett Publishing Co. in Chicago.

Beutner was a member and former president of the IWU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, national honor society; a member of Gamma Upsilon, honorary media fraternity; Sigma Delta Chi, the society of professional journalists; the National Council of Teachers of English; an honorary life member of the College Media Advisers; and a member of the McLean County, LaPorte County, and Indiana State Historical Societies.

Beutner married Allaire Schlicher in June 1977. Schlicher was a professor of Spanish at IWU from 1971-1978.

After leaving IWU, the Beutners moved to Indianapolis, where he was an adjunct professor of English at the University of Indianapolis for 10 years and also taught English literature extension classes for the University of Saint Francis in Indianapolis.

He was a member of Sigma Delta Chi, the society of professional journalists, a 32-year member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Three Oaks, Michigan, an honorary life member of the College Media Advisers, and a member of the McLean County, LaPorte County, and Indiana State Historical Societies.

A memorial service will be held May 3, 11 a.m., at the John Wesley Free Methodist Church on 5900 West 46th Street, Indianapolis. Memorials may made to the Harvey Beutner Journalism Scholarship Fund, c/o Illinois Wesleyan University, P.O. Box 2900, Bloomington, IL 61702.