David Martin Sutter, 78, of Austin, passed away Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

David was born Jan. 19, 1934, in Austin, Minn., to Ronald and Ruth (Olson) Sutter. He enlisted in the Air Force and served over four years. He is a veteran of the Korean War. He returned to Austin after his father became ill to run Sutter’s City Service. He sold the gas station to obtain a position at the Austin Utility Company. He retired from the Austin Utilities after 30 years of employment.

He volunteered at AARP every tax season where he enjoyed the interaction with the public. You may have seen him driving around town wearing his black cowboy hat, which he was seldom seen without. He enjoyed gardening in his back acre and tubing down the Salt River in Arizona where he was known as “Cooler Joe.” His children will always remember sitting in the back shed shucking and cracking Black Walnuts.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roland and Ruth Sutter and one infant Daughter, Donna Sutter.

David is survived by his wife, Dianne (Greenameyer) Sutter; two daughters, Dori (Don) Hagen of Blooming Prairie, Minn., and DeeAnn Sutter of Mesa, Ariz.; two sons, Deven (Denise) Sutter of Lyle, Minn., and Darry (Lisa) Sutter of Richfield, Minn.; four grandchildren, Lacey Sutter, Lynsey Reuter, and Lauren and Meadow Sutter; and two great-grandchildren, Teagan Sutter, David (Sutter) Clennon; two step-grandchildren, Serena Gleason, R.J. Gleason; and three great-step-grandchildren, Lilly Gardner, Payton Gardner and Easton Gardner.

David arranged for his body to be donated to Mayo Research. It was David’s request that no memorial service be planned. We are following his wishes. He was a very loving and devoted father; he will be greatly missed.