Sauter, James Allen

The area lost a great community member when James Allen Sauter passed away at the stroke rehabilitation center in Mercy Iowa City on Nov. 21, 2013, at the age of 89.

He was born Nov. 16, 1924, and was one of 10 children of Michael and Agatha Sauter. He married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Ada Bruhn, on June 5, 1945.

He is survived by his wife; six children: Ed (Jan), Mount Vernon, David (Lynn), San Jose, Calif, Susan, Tulsa, Okla., Wendy, Amana, Danny (Heather), Silver Spring, Md., and Lisa, Iowa City; 16 loving grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his oldest daughter, Kathy Moore; a grandson, Max Wallace; and four of his siblings.

Jim was a caring, compassionate and loving husband and father.

He attended high school in Millersburg and the University of Iowa for part of a year before returning to the family farm west of Millersburg. Jim operated a farm tiling service until he purchased the Chevrolet dealership in Millersburg in 1952. He relocated the business to North English in 1960 and the family followed 1962.

Jim was also a consummate public servant. During his lifetime, he served on scores of committees and public service organizations in his community. He was on the founding board of directors for the English Valleys Recreation Association, which developed Knoll Ridge Golf Club and swimming pool. He was also on the founding board of the English Valley Care Center, an organization on which he still served at the time of his death. He attended his last meeting in September while at the care center recuperating from hip replacement surgery.

He was a member of Rotary International, a devout member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and trustee of the local Knights of Columbus. He served on the board of directors of the Mahaska State Bank, was on the first board of directors of the EV Community Center as well as the school board and city councils of some of the communities in which he resided.

In 1998, Jim was selected as Iowan of the Year and honored at the Iowa State Fair. Jim followed in the footsteps of his father in his service on the Iowa County Board of Supervisors. He was re-elected twice and served from 1980 until 1992.

Jim's crowning achievement was his service as a trustee on the Kirkwood Community College board of directors. He was a strong proponent of education and advocated for creation of the community college system to the state legislature. He was one of the initial trustees and served from 1966 until his retirement in 1999.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in North English at 2 p.m. Sunday, followed by a celebration of his life at Knoll Ridge Country Club.

Published Nov. 24, 2013 in The Gazette