Born in Ilbeshausen (near Grebenhain), Gutermuth completed an apprenticeship as a blacksmith, then served in World War I.
[1][2] The union was dissolved by the Nazis in 1933, and Gutermuth found himself unemployed, but obtained work at the Bielefelder linen factory.
[1][2] After the war, Gutermuth was a founder member of IG Bergbau, a new miners' union, working as its secretary until 1953.
He was then elected as the union's president, but renounced the position in favour of Heinrich Imig.
[1][2] Gutermuth was awarded the Great Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.