Ralph L. Amstutz
Ralph L. (Shortie) Amstutz, age 93, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday July 29, 2008 at 6:30 AM, after a short illness at Marion General Hospital. He suffered with Parkinson’s Plus while at Marion Manor for the last three years.
He was born April 11, 1915 in Bluffton, Ohio to the late Albert and Fannie (Luginbuhl) Amstutz. His mother passed away when he was six years old leaving her six children without a mother. Later his father, Albert, married Grace Spicer Sutton who was a school teacher in LaRue where they started farming on a small farm located on the Winnemac Rd. not far from Ralph and Loa May’s present farm.
On September 7, 1941 he married Loa May Dutton and bought his farm on the Winnemac where they lived for 67 years. He was a graduate of LaRue High School in 1935 where he was active in the F F A, music, chorus, church, debate & oratory club.
He loved farming and his main hobby was gardening with three separate patches for garden, melons, and sweet corn. He and his dad also invented the infamous Amstutz automatic hog feeder. He also demonstrated the gristmill at fairs and steam threshers shows where he would grind wheat into flour and corn into cornmeal. During retirement, Ralph and Loa May enjoyed camping in Logan, Ohio where he rode dirt bikes with his children and wintered at their home in Plantation Estates in Fort Myers, Florida for seven years. He retired from the Marion Power Shovel Co. after 20 years. He was active in the Bowling Green Grange for many years and was a member of the LaRue United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife Loa May and they have four children, David R. (Willa) Amstutz and Steven A. (Clarissa) Amstutz both of Richwood, Carol Marie Kelly (Husband Floyd Broughton) of Caledonia and Judy Eileen Amstutz of Essex. Four Grandchildren Tim (Debra) and Tom (Rae) Amstutz, Rich (Emeline) and Doug (Kathleen) Kelly. Step Grandson Mike Broughton. Great Grandchildren Daniel, Shelby, Matthew, Madison and Savannah Amstutz, Sara and Brandon Kelly. Brothers; Rev. Howard Amstutz of Denver, CO and Wilford Amstutz of Fort Wayne, Ind. Two brothers, Rev. Landolene Amstutz and Harold Amstutz and one sister Mary Purdy are deceased.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday August 2, 2008 at 11:00 AM at the Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home in LaRue. Minister will be Pastor Mandy Rice. Burial in the Fairview Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home in LaRue from 5 to 8 PM on Friday.
Those who wish may make contributions to either Parkinson’s Disease Research or the LaRue United Methodist Church.
Pall Bearers will be David, Steven, Tim, Tom and Daniel(Great Grandson) Amstutz, Rich and Doug Kelly and Floyd Broughton.
Remembrances and Condolences may be expressed at stofcheck-ballingerfuneralhome.com.
Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home