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Dr. Barry L. Sutter

September 1946-July 2020

Posted

“If life were a competition, my Dad won.”
Dad was a true competitor. He relished any form of competition, from wrestling to fantasy football and cards. He liked to make a competition out of everything...even weight loss! He could bring a room to life with the twinkle in his eye and the charisma that could get everyone around him to join in a friendly game.
Dad did it all: Vietnam Veteran, Bloomsburg College wrestling champion, NY High School Section 4 Wrestling Hall of Fame, NCAA wrestling referee, Apache Junction School District Superintendent. Dad raised two kids, kept his wife happy for 50 years, and in retirement, finally caught that trophy-wall trout.
Dad was truly committed to serving and being a part of the community, in Apache Junction Rotary, Moose Lodge, Elks and Chamber of Commerce, in his local church as a member, volunteer, and Sunday school leader, as well as a crusader for Cursillo, a Christian organization. Later in life, as he and mom spent more time in Greer, AZ, he joined the Greer Civic Association and served as the Greer Parade Grand Marshall.
Dad had a heart of gold. We will remember him, sitting on his porch in Greer, with the smell of the pine trees and the shimmering of the Aspen leaves, taking his first sip of a steaming cup of coffee, smiling and saying, “Life is Good”. Here’s to you, Dad. Because of you, our life is good.
Barry Sutter is survived by his wife, Susanne, his daughter, Jill (Jason), his son, Jared (Darcy), his 7 grandkids, who all knew him as Oppie, and his three siblings, Tami, Brad and Karen.
A Celebration of Life will be planned at a later date. Donations to the Barry Sutter Scholarship Fund are being accepted at AJUSD, 1575 W. Southern Ave, Apache Junction, AZ 85120.