OUR HISTORY

Victor Construction’s history is family history.

In December of 1954, Robert and Margaret Schuttler put their dreams into action.  With two growing children and a third on the way, they launched Victor Construction.  Named after Robert’s father Victor, the business was run out of the couple’s home for many years, as they expanded their family to five children.

Robert began his construction career as a salesman for a home remodeling company. He enjoyed it, and always knew he’d one day open his own home remodeling company. While Robert worked to find clients for their new company, “Marge” was the bookkeeper. Their road to growing a family business was anything but easy, raising five children and funding the company, all out of their personal savings. Victor Construction was built on their backs, and they remain true trail blazers in the family legacy.

In the 1970’s, Robert decided to switch from residential to commercial construction, slowly stepping away from the home remodeling business.

Margaret Schuttler visting a residential job site with mother-in-law Ruth Schuttler.
Company namesake, Victor Schuttler (father of Robert Schuttler) explores one of his son's residential job sites.

 Victor Construction as general contractor was born, expanding into the Chicagoland area.  

As the company grew, some of the children found their place in the company. Sons Robert Jr. and Jeffrey Schuttler began as site laborers, working their way to up to company officers. Eventually, the family staff included Robert Sr. as President, Robert Jr. as Vice President, Marge as Secretary, and Jeff as Treasurer. Although it was hard to pull away from the company they’d founded, Robert Sr. and Marge eventually retired, leaving Robert Jr. as President, Jeff Schuttler as Vice President, and daughter Peggy as Secretary. Since Robert Jr.’s retirement, Jeff Schuttler took over as President and grandson Zak Schuttler became Vice President. The family partnership continued as Zak’s wife Kelly Schuttler joined as Project Administrator, and Jeff’s wife Elizabeth joined the Business Development team.

Victor Construction has stood the test of time as one of Chicago’s most trusted general contractors, thanks to a passionate family legacy.

With Margaret Schuttler hard at work handling the accounting and bookkeeping, future President Robert Schuttler Jr. can be seen getting a hands-on education and learning the family business.
Former President Robert Schuttler Jr. came across founder Robert Schuttler Sr.'s old briefcase. It holds several notebooks with handwritten project notes and accounting, marketing mockups, business cards, brochures, and even some old photos.
Discovered in the briefcase was this photo-- an image of Robert Schuttler Sr. juggling multiple phone calls as he tackles the day-to-day operations of the company.