Sutter, Frederick S. Sr. Obituary

Sutter, Frederick S. Sr. attended Ellet High School in Akron, OH. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Sutter, Frederick S. Sr..

Graduation Year	Class of 1960
Date of Passing	May 26, 2009
About	Only once in a lifetime someone touches your heart so deeply that you are never the same afterward. Fred Sutter was that person for so many. With his family by his side, Fred passed away quietly on Tuesday, May 26, from pneumonia - a complication of leukemia. Fred's kindness and generous spirit was felt by all who knew him, and everyone loved him for it. Never was there a time when he saw someone in need and did not help, and was often there before you even knew that you needed him. He made life a lot simpler for so many people. Fred cared about his family and friends, his cats Mutt and Jeff, and his neighborhood, often strolling the sidewalks checking to see if everyone was behaving. His concern was well-known and he was lovingly called "The Mayor of Upson Street." His interests covered a wide range. He especially enjoyed restoring classic cars and military vehicles with his son; trips to West Virginia, where he never met a stranger, spending time with his granddaughters; and "junking" where he found many "treasures" that he brought home to his wife and others. Fred thought everything could be useful - someday - and he was going to be prepared. Fred was born in Akron, attended Hoban High School and graduated from Ellet High School in 1960. Following graduation, he and his father opened a Sinclair gas station on the corner of Arlington and Hazel streets where, as destiny would have it, he met and was attracted to a beautiful young girl who would eventually become his wife. He served in the United States Navy from 1962 to 1964 as an Airman aboard the USS Shangri-La. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, Fred worked briefly at Lawson's warehouse, then at Vaughn Machine as a pattern maker's apprentice, then spent 10 years with Wean United in Canton, before hiring in at General Motors in Mansfield. After 23 years as a pattern maker with GM, he retired in October of 1997. Preceded in death by his father, Carl, his mother, Ann and his sister, Roseanne, Fred is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Fran; son, Freddie, Jr. (Arienne); daughter Carlann Spring (Mark); and brothers, Buster and Joe; grandchildren, Lauren and Lexi Spring; brothers-in-law, Bob (Shirley) and Terry Varner; and sister-in-law, Carol Dullen (Brian); nephews, Jim (Sandy) Dullen, Vincent (Theresa) and Drain Varner; nieces, Sonja (John) Richmond and Jennifer Dullen (Frank Lagarde); many great-nephews and nieces; as well as other family members. Fred also leaves special friends, The Harris family; Robbie Leary and family; Jim and Linda Sutherland; Don Bettes; Rick Price; Kevin Detwiler; the Verderico family; all of his PML brothers and fellow retirees; Dale Kubicki and the boys at the shop; and "adopted" sons, Chip York, Erik Kato and his brother-in-arms, Kacy Wells. He will be deeply missed by all - his loving heart, his (sometimes) unexpected sense of humor, his strength of spirit, his passion for what is right, his extraordinary sense of commitment, his honesty, even when it sometimes hurt, and his kind and gentle ways. "Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you. If you can only remember me with tears, then don't remember me at all." A Memorial Mass will take place at 10 a.m. Monday, June 1, 2009, at St. Bernard Church 44 University Ave., Akron. Friends may call at the Hummel Funeral Home, 500 E. Exchange St., Akron, on Sunday, May 31 from 4 to 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Humane Society, 4904 Quick Rd., Peninsula, OH 44264 or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Northern Ohio Chapter 902 Westpoint Pkwy. Suite 300, Cleveland, OH 44145 Hummel Funeral Home