Welcome to my corner of the website. I am your host, Scott Gutzke.  It is in this little corner of this website that I keep information about myself and things that I like.

I am originally from Franklin, Wisconsin, a south side suburb of Milwaukee. I graduated from Oak Creek High School in 1997 in the top third of my class. I am an only child. My mother, Pat, worked at Cross Ambulance Service in West Allis in the billing department, and is now retired. My father, Tom, is a retired firefighter/EMT-D from the Franklin Fire Department.

I went overseas twice on exchange programs. The first was to Russia when I was in the eighth grade, and I went to Germany when I was in the tenth grade. I learned a lot about other cultures and other parts of the world.

I have been a Civil War re-enactor since the spring of 1995. I enlisted as a Private in Battery B, 4^th U.S. Light Artillery. It was a new unit, having just started the year before. At the time we fired one Model 1857 Light 12-Pound Field Gun Howitzer, affectionately called the Napoleon by her crews. It is an original tube, which not many batteries can say they fire. In the spring of 1997, I was elected a Corporal in the unit elections. My first major event as an NCO was the 135^th Anniversary of the Battle of Antietam in September of 1997. I was promoted to Sergeant in the spring of 1998 for my outstanding work as a Corporal. Then, in August of 1998, I was again promoted to First Sergeant.  In October of 1999, Captain Eric Peterson, the battery commander, asked me to purchase an officers uniform, since for several events he would be the Federal forces commander. During the 2000 season, I sometimes portrayed a First Lieutenant.  For the 2001 season I decided to take on a lesser role in the leadership of the battery, as I knew that my school work was getting harder, so I became a Corporal again (in my opinion, by far the best rank in the Civil War army).  For the 2003 season, Captain Terry Brown asked me to again assume the role of First Sergeant.  In 2006 I again stepped back and served as a Corporal.  Battery B has about 25 members and we fire two original Napoleons.

During the 2000 season I enlisted as a Private in a second unit, Company E, 64^th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.  They are located in northern Illinois and it is the unit to which my then fiancée, Mary Benecke, belonged.  In 2003, I was elected First Lieutenant and in 2004 I was elected Captain and company commander.

I was very active in the Boy Scouts of America in my youth. I started as a Cub Scout in second grade. Four years later I earned my Arrow of Light and became a Boy Scout. I served in Troop 218 (Oak Creek, Wisconsin) for seven years, holding such positions as: Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, Librarian, Scribe, and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. I earned my Eagle Scout rank on February 4, 1994. It was the proudest moment in my Scouting career. In September 1996, I became an Ordeal member of Mikano Lodge #231, Order of the Arrow. In September of 1998 I became a Brotherhood member of the same lodge. I also was the Assistant Scoutmaster for my troop for several years. In September 1998 I joined Explorer Post/Venture Crew Post 339 (Sussex, Wisconsin) is part of the Wisconsin Military Cadet Program. I enlisted as a Staff Sergeant (since I had been to Basic Training and AIT). I started out as a squad leader.  Eventually I became the unit supply sergeant.  I was promoted to Sergeant First Class and became the platoon sergeant.  I earned the Ranger Award, at the time a brand new award for Venturers. I was the first person in the State of Wisconsin and one of the first ten in the nation to earn this award.  When I turned 21 in 2000, I became an adult leader, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant.  I served as the S-4 (Supply and Logistics Officer) for almost a year.  I then was promoted to First Lieutenant and served as a Platoon Leader and then the S-3 (Training and Operations Officer).  I served in that role for almost three years, where I created and implemented a training and evaluation program to promote all the cadets.

I was also a real soldier. I served for over eight years in several units, most recently C Battery, 1^st Battalion, (MLRS) 121^st Field Artillery, Wisconsin Army National Guard.

I joined Waukesha Lodge #37, Free and Accepted Masons of Wisconsin in December 1998. I started my degree work in January 1999. I was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in March 1999.  I served for a year as the Junior Steward, one as Senior Steward, and another year as the Chaplain.  I am also a member of the York Rite, Waukesha Chapter #37, RAM, Waukesha Council #29, R&SM, and Waukesha Commandery #23, Knights Templar. I am also a member of Armistead-Bingham Lodge #1862, F&AM of WI, a traveling Civil War Masonic Lodge (I served as Worshipful Master in 2008) and Milwaukee Chapter #27, National Sojourners.  When I moved to the Chicago area I joined Rising Sun Lodge #115, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Illinois.  I have served as Chaplain and Junior Steward.  I currently am their Senior Steward.

In 2002, I graduated from Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin with a BA in History, Secondary Education, and Politics. I worked as a Special Education Teachers Aide for two years at MacArthur Middle School (Prospect Heights School District #23) in Prospect Heights, Illinois.  Afterwards, I taught American History, World History, and American Government for three years at J. Sterling Morton West High School (J. Sterling Morton High School District #201) in Berwyn, Illinois.  I work for one year as an ED/BD special education teacher at Cyd Lash Academy (Special Education District of Lake County #825) in Gages Lake, Illinois.  I currently work as an ED/BD special education teacher at the Almond Road Campus of Warren Township High School District #121 in Gurnee, Illinois.

The most special person in my life is my wife, Mary.  We have been going out since November 15, 1998 and met at Carroll College.  On December 11, 1999 I asked her to marry me.  (Why she said yes I still don't know!)  Mary and I were married on October 26, 2002.  We bought our first house in January 2006 in Grayslake, Illinois, a suburb on the north side of Chicago.

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