By Crawford County Now Staff Feb 14, 2023 6:10pm
Roland Dale Sautter passed away on Monday February 13, 2023 after a courageous battle with leukemia.
He was born on 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 returned home on furlough in December 1955, he purchased the his farm before returning to service.
During his tenure in the Navy, he was stationed at Port Lyautey, Africa, in 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 children until their divorce, although they remained friends until her death in 2005.
After his discharge from the Navy, Roland got a job at Cape Canaveral working as an aircraft electrician on Atlas missiles, including the first ever ICBM, preparing it for testing. In 1960 he went to Fremont, Nebraska to install Atlas missiles for use in the Cold War with Russia. His subsequent work took him to Topeka, Kansas, back to Nebraska, Plattsburg, New York, Newark, Ohio and finally back to his farm in Galion in 1972.
Farming was in his blood and although he experienced the trials and tribulations that working the land 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 true when another son, Kevin, joined them to work together “unlimited farms”.
Roland leaves behind his children, 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 partner 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-nephew, Sawyer Walker.
Roland loved his family and farming and throughout his career he treated his friends, acquaintances and business associates with dignity, respect and fairness. Her love for him and her pride in her family were unmatched and that love was returned to him tenfold.
The family will receive friends from 1-3pm and 5-7pm on Friday, February 17, 2023 at the Richardson Davis Chapel of the Snyder Funeral Homes, 218 South Market St., Galion, Ohio 44833. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Peace Lutheran Church 129 West Walnut Street Galion, Ohio, with the Rev. Richard Genzman officiating. Burial will take place in the Iberia cemetery.
Military honors will be conducted by the US Navy and VFW Post 8054 and AMVETS Post 87 both of Mount Gilead.
Memorial contributions can be paid to the Avita Hospice by the funeral home.
Roland’s family would like to thank the staff at James Cancer Center, as well as Avita Hospice and his special assistant, Marylou Mitchell for the compassionate care he received during his illness.
Richardson Davis Chapel at Snyder Funeral Homes in Galion is honored to serve the family of Roland Sautter, and condolences can be sent to them at www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com.
