Alexander Hutchison

Born on a farm in Fraserburgh, Scotland, he learned at a young age how to “earn a buck” by delivering milk on his motor scooter to townspeople and to enjoy the feeling of having coins in his pocket in the schoolyard. With a lack of interest in farming, he pursued drafting school in Aberdeen. In 1946, he received a job offer to join his oldest brother, Jack, in Cape Town, Rhodesia; however, those plans were significantly altered when he was drafted to serve in the British Sector of Postwar Germany in the city of Dresden. The utter destruction of that city left a marked impression about the waste of war and like many of The Greatest Generation, he learned to be grateful for what one had and to carry on with life. Upon his return to Britain, he found work in Birmingham, England as a draftsman. After observing the men around him who sat at the same drafting table for decades, Al decided to pursue greater control over his future and applied for numerous sales positions throughout Great Britain; without any success, he eventually realized America would likely have better opportunities. A cousin living in Detroit served as his sponsor and in June of 1952, he departed Glasgow for a two-week ocean voyage bound for Detroit.

He began his work life at Burroughs Corporation in the drafting department and eventually moved to GM’s research division working on drafting and tooling development. Al still knew that a career in sales was the path he wanted to pursue. And, while successful in selling diamond wheels to industrial clients, he saw the opportunity to represent other product lines and decided to leave the steadiness of employment to start his own business—fulfilling a part of his American Dream. In a true partnership with his wife, Irene, Hutchison Tools Sales was incorporated in January 1964 and is now owned and operated by his son, Tom.
Al and Irene’s courtship began after they met at a dance in 1957, and they later married in August 1959 in Oak Park. They enjoyed a two-week honeymoon to Europe – the first week in Scotland to meet family and the second in Paris as part of an international business trip to a machine tool exposition. Their business success enabled them to enjoy a membership at Medinah Country Club, where Al indulged in his love of golf – that love spread to his wife and children and they shared many a weekend as a family together on the links. During the many years of that membership, Al and Irene enjoyed playing golf, attending social events and traveling with many dear friends, all of which brought many moments of joy and laughter. In their sunset years, they moved to Friendship Village where they had a second opportunity to meet another group of cherished friends.

Al is lovingly survived by his wife of 58 years, Irene; daughter Catherine Boyd (Kevin); step-grandsons Adam and Alex; son Thomas Hutchison (Megan); grandchildren Jack, Hugh and Maggie; nephew Brian Hutchison (Janice), nieces Sheena Masson (Eddie), Sandra Paterson (Bill) and numerous great-nephews and nieces. He is predeceased by his father Thomas and mother Jean; brothers Jack and Simon and sister-in-law, Jean; and dear cousin Alistair Rannie (Jeannie).

As part of a life focused on practicality and in honor of his years of membership in the Medinah Shriners Masonic organization, the family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Shriners Hospitals for Children via https://lovetotherescue.org/ to provide assistance to families in need.

Visitation Tuesday May 29, 4:00pm - 9:00pm at Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory 333 S. Roselle Road (1/2 mile South of Irving Park Road) Roselle. Funeral Wednesday 10:00am. Interment Elmwood Cemetery.

For information (630)529-5751 or www.countrysidefuneralhomes.com