Kenneth John Krautter

Bluffton

Kenneth John Krautter, 96, of Bowling Green, formerly of Bluffton, died at 5:35 p.m. Sept. 1, 2009, at Wood County Hospital, Bowling Green, following a heart attack.

He was born April 29, 1913, in York County, Neb., to John and Mary Bremer Krautter, who preceded him in death. On June 21, 1944, in Findlay, he married Lillian Huber, while on a weeklong pass from the Navy, and she died April 30, 2005.

Mr. Krautter was a 1931 graduate of Mount Cory High School. He was a Navy veteran serving as an aviation machinist mate aboard the USS Nitro and the USS Marblehead in the Atlantic Ocean patrolling the water near Brazil, Puerto Rico, Cuba, England, Northern Ireland, North Africa and Sicily. Following the war, he worked as a mechanic at the Harrington Chevrolet, Findlay, until starting to farm the Krautter homestead near Mount Cory in 1953. In 1965, they moved to the Huber homestead on Hillville Road south of Bluffton. They sold part of that farm in 1996, and moved to Lima. In 2007, he settled in Bowling Green living on his own until he moved to Sterling House Assisted Living two months ago.

He had been a school bus driver for Cory-Rawson and Bluffton schools for several years. He and his wife delivered Meals on Wheels in Bluffton and volunteered at election day voting locations. He was a longtime member of the English Lutheran Church, Bluffton. He was a member of American Legion Post 382, Bluffton. Until his death, he was an avid reader on many topics, enjoyed crossword puzzles and loved talking about current events and politics.

Survivors include a son, David (Suzanne) Krautter, of Columbus; a daughter, Marcia (Thomas) Suter, of Bowling Green; four grandchildren, Lisa (Brody) White, Brian (Tina) Krautter, Andrew (Kathleen) Suter and Michael Suter; a great-grandson, Angus Suter; and a sister, Janette Gamble, of Bigfork, Mont.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Mildred Koontz and Ruth Ritchie.

Services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Chiles-Laman Funeral Home, Bluffton. The Rev. Kevin Mohr will officiate. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Bluffton.

Friends may call one hour prior to services Saturday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the English Lutheran Church, Bluffton.