Lester LuVerne Sutter

Lester LuVerne Sutter, 96, of Chambersburg, PA died Thursday, January 7, 2021 at Wellspan Chambersburg Hospital, of complications related to pneumonia. Lester was born on a farm in Manson, Iowa on November 13, 1924. His parents were Cyrenius and Ada Zehr Sutter and he was the 3rd of 4 brothers, Clarence and Robert (deceased) and Wayne of Morton, Il.

Lester had a love for ministry and music throughout his lifetime. He played trombone for his high school marching band and was self taught at playing guitar, piano and organ. When he wasn’t playing, he was singing gospel hymns around the house, in a quartet with his brothers, and in the church choir.

Inspired by his deep faith and desire to serve the Lord, he made the decision as a young man to travel to the southern states to pass out Bibles. He soon learned there was no need for this, so the Mennonite Church sent him to Hesston College to help build a Science Building in 1949. While there he met his wife of 70 years, Marietta Egli Sutter. He thought he would always be a farmer, but shortly after marrying he felt a calling to the ministry. He attended Seminary in Goshen College and became a Mennonite Minister focused on church planting in various states across the country including Ft. Dodge IA, Kokomo IN, Peoria (Norwood) IL, Rittman OH, and NYC (Queens, Bronx, Staten Island).

After retirement, he, his wife and daughter Jean moved from NYC to Ferndale WA, where they lived for 17 years before settling in Chambersburg PA in 2018. Lester is survived by his wife Marietta. He has 6 children, David (Sue) Sutter, Marilyn Sutter(deceased), Marjorie Hunter (Tom Hoban), Stanley Sutter, Susan Brenneman (Mark) and Jean Sutter. He has 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, whom he cherished and enjoyed so.

Words can not describe what a gentle and kind man he was and how much all of us who love him will miss him. He will be in our minds whenever we gather as a family. Or eat cookies or jellybeans. Or play a game of Scrabble, watch the Mariners, Mets, Seahawks or Fighting Irish, not to mention Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy. And always, the gospel music that mirrored his faith and defined his life will ring in our hearts forever.

Matthew 25:21 May we so live to enjoy that day when the Lord may say to us, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

Memorial donations to Living Water Malawi P.O. Box 3011 Ferndale, WA 98248

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