Roland Dale Sautter passed away on Monday, February 13, 2023 after a courageous battle with leukemia.
He was born December 12, 1936 in Galion and was the son of Albert and Lucille (Fisher) Sautter.
Roland attended Iberia High School, graduating in 1954. He grew up farming with his father until he proudly joined the United States Navy in November 1955. When he came home on leave in December 1955, he bought his own farm before returning to duty.
During his tenure in the Navy, he was stationed in Port Lyautey, Africa, French Morocco for 18 months and then at Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Florida for 18 months, before being honorably discharged in November 1959.
Roland married Jeannie Long on January 29, 1959 and together they raised four sons until their divorce, though they remained friends until her death in 2005.
Following his discharge from the Navy, Roland got a job at Cape Canaveral working as an aircraft electrician on atlas missiles including the first intercontinental ballistic missile ever made, getting it ready to be test fired. In 1960, he went to Fremont, Nebraska to install Atlas missiles for use in the cold war with Russia. His subsequent jobs took him to Topeka, Kansas, back to Nebraska, Plattsburg, New York, Newark, Ohio and finally returning back to his farm in Galion in 1972.
Farming was in his blood and though he experienced the trials and tribulations that working the soil presented, he never wavered from his decision to return to farming. His hope was that one day more of his sons would work alongside him and his youngest son, Steven, in the family business and that dream came to pass when another son, Kevin, joined them to work “farms unlimited” together.
Roland leaves to celebrate his memory his sons, Kevin (Joann Thompson), Neil, Steven (Teresa Bowman); his sister, Alma Jean Moke; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews as well as his companion of 41 years, Betty Runge.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Albert Dale in 1999; his brother, Jack Sautter and a great-grandson, Sawyer Walker.
Roland loved his family and farming and throughout his career he treated his friends, his acquaintances and his business associates with dignity, respect and fairness. His love and pride in his family was unparalleled and that love was returned to him tenfold.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, February 17, 2023 at Richardson Davis Chapel of Snyder Funeral Homes, 218 South Market St., Galion, Ohio 44833. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Peace Lutheran Church 129 West Walnut Street Galion, Ohio with Rev. Richard Genzman officiating. Burial will be in Iberia Cemetery.
Military honors will be conducted by the United States Navy and the VFW Post 8054 and AMVETS Post 87 both of Mt. Gilead.
Memorial contributions may be made to Avita Hospice in care of the funeral home.
Roland’s family would like to thank the staff at The James Cancer Center, as well as Avita Hospice and his special caregiver, Marylou Mitchell for the compassionate care he received during his illness.
Richardson Davis Chapel of Snyder Funeral Homes in Galion is honored to serve the family of Roland Sautter, and condolences may be made to them at www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com.