J. Wallace "Wally" Gutzler was born on September 19, 1928 in Kremmling, Colorado, where he lived until moving with his family to Oregon City, Oregon when he was 14. Wally graduated from Oregon City High School in 1946, whereupon he joined the Marine Corps and remained until 1948. He returned to Oregon City and met and married Virginia Lea Sawyer in 1949. Shortly after their daughter, Sherri, was born in 1950, Wally was recalled to the Marines to fight in the Korean Conflict. He was wounded in Korea and received the Purple Heart. He returned to Salem, Oregon, where his son, Mike, was born in 1952.

Wally entered Willamette University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1955 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1957. While attending Willamette, he worked nights at the Marion County Sherriff's Office. Wally and his family moved to Woodburn, Oregon to practice family law and serve as City Attorney of Woodburn until 1973. From 1973-1975, he became Legal Counsel, Title Insurance Company of Oregon. While in Woodburn, Wally served as President of the Woodburn Rotary Club and was honored as Junior First Citizen of Woodburn.

In 1975, Wally and Virginia returned to Salem when he became Executive Vice President of First Federal Savings and Loan Association until 1980. He then became President of Capital Title Company until 1987. He served as Executive Vice President of Western Title Company until 1989, at which time he entered management in the assisted living field until he retired in 2018. While in Salem, Wally was honored as Senior First Citizen of Salem.

Wally and Virginia moved to Country Meadows in Woodburn in February of 2015. Wally served as unofficial greeter at Country Meadows, approaching newcomers and introducing himself. Virginia died in 2019. After her death, Wally was fortunate to find the companionship of Dorothy Hazelwood.

Wally Gutzler died on June 8, 2024. He is survived by his daughter, Sherri, and her husband, Jim McGonagle, his son, Mike, daughter-in-law, Gail, and grandchildren Natalie and Eli. He is also survived by his brother, Tom, and Tom's wife, Carolyn. Wally also has one surviving niece and three surviving nephews, as well as several grandnieces and grandnephews.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, June 28, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Simon Cornwell Colonial Chapel, 390 N. Second Street, Woodburn, Oregon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Willamette University Law Fund or the Oregon Humane Society, Salem Campus.