Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 7/14/2004

Charles H. Beutter

July 2, 1907 -- July 11, 2004

Charles H. Beutter, 97, of Homewood Avenue, Mishawaka, Ind., completed his long and happy life on Earth at 7:35 a.m. Sunday, July 11.

He ended a 10-day hospital stay on July 2nd in time to celebrate his final birthday at Diamond Lake, Mich., with his family, neighbors and friends who always made that annual event the highlight of his year. That evening he returned to Hubbard Hill Estates where he had resided the past three months with his many new friends and compassionate caregivers.

"Charlie" was born in South Bend, Ind., on July 2, 1907, to Henry and Clara (Wolf) Beutter. His sister, Erma Achton, preceded him in death. Swept off his feet by a beautiful young nurse, he married Helen M. Cone in Mishawaka on Feb. 18, 1931. Helen's death on March 14, 1998, did not end his love for her.

Beutter is survived by two children who were blessed with a father that gave them unlimited time, help and love. His daughter, Barbara D'Achille, resides in Beaver Falls, Pa., and a son, Robert (Mary Alice) Beutter lives in Mishawaka. "Grandpa Chuck" shared his love, integrity and wisdom with eight grandchildren, Robert D'Achille (Patricia), Whitney Point, N.Y., Thomas D'Achille, Beaver Falls, Pa., James D'Achille (Sherri), Coconut Creek, Fla., Nancy Shrouds (Curt), Beaver Falls, Brent Beutter (Michelle), Newark, Calif., Lori Alexander, Brentwood, Tenn., Brad Beutter (Donna), South Bend, and Brian Beutter (Sabrina), Madison, Wis.; 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by two baby grandsons, Bruce Beutter and David D'Achille.

After graduating from South Bend High School, Beutter attended Notre Dame for two years before transferring to the University of Illinois where he graduated with a BS degree in business in 1929. He began his working life (and The Great Depression) at the brokerage house of E. Lowitz & Co., South Bend. He started his banking career at Mishawaka Loan and Trust Company before joining St. Joseph Bank and Trust Company as a mortgage loan officer. 42 years later he retired from St. Joseph Bank as vice president and trust officer. Only 65 years of age at the time, Beutter accepted a position as trust officer at Valley American Bank and Trust Company and worked for another 17 years.

Although he enjoyed his summers at the lake, gardening, caring for nature, birds and wildlife, fishing trips to Canada with his friends, and family vacation trips, he always had time to serve others and help his community. He had served as treasurer of the Mishawaka Board of School Trustees, president and 50-year member of the South Bend Rotary Club, president and life member of South Bend Turners, commodore of the Eagle Lake Yacht Club, director of the YMCA and of the Scholarship Foundation of St. Joseph County, and was a 70-year member of St. Peter Lutheran Church.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 16, in the Bubb Funeral Chapel North, 3910 N. Main St., Mishawaka, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, July 17, in St. Peter Lutheran Church where a funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. with Rev. Kenneth Mangelsdorf officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter Lutheran Church, 437 Dragoon Trail East, Mishawaka, IN 46544.

Submitted by: Nadine A. Hardin

Name: Beutter, Charles

Names mentioned: Achton, Alexander, Beutter, Cone, D’Achille, Shrouds, Wolf

South Bend Tribune, Newspaper Article; July 14, 2004

By ADAM JACKSON

Tribune Staff Writer

“Charles Beutter dies at age 97”

MISHAWAKA -- Sometimes, funerals can be sad and tragic occasions that mark with tears and grief the end of a life. And make no mistake, Charles Beutter, who passed away at the age of 97 on Sunday, will be mourned. But his son, Robert Beutter, said he hopes the occasion also will be a time to remember the accomplishments and legacy of a man who touched many lives during his own long one.

"He was just the nicest guy in the world," said his son, the former mayor of Mishawaka. "We intend to celebrate the great life of a true gentleman."

Beutter, the son of Henry and Clara (Wolf) Beutter, was born in South Bend on July 2, 1907. A graduate of South Bend High School, he attended the University of Notre Dame for two years before transferring to the University of Illinois, where he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in business in 1929.

That was just in time to jump into his career at a South Bend brokerage firm later that year, right at the beginning of the Great Depression.

Yet even in a time of economic hardship for the nation, Beutter found joy in his 1931 marriage to Helen Cone, kicking off a marriage that would last more than 67 years.

"My father always treated my mother with the utmost in love and respect," Robert Beutter said.

Beutter's working life was also an extraordinarily long one, lasting well into his eighth decade. Beginning with the brokerage job, he honed his financial skills at the Mishawaka Loan and Trust Co. and the St. Joseph Bank and Trust Co., the latter of which was his place of employment for 42 years.

At the age of 65, Beutter retired from St. Joseph Bank and Trust, but he didn't put his feet up. Rather, he moved into a position as trust officer at Valley American Bank and Trust Co., where he was to work another 17 years.

But his career didn't keep Beutter from reaching out to help in his community. In addition to serving as treasurer on the Mishawaka Board of School Trustees, he was president and a 50-year member of the South Bend Rotary Club, president and life member of South Bend Turners, commodore of the Eagle Lake Yacht Club, director of the YMCA and the Scholarship Foundation of St. Joseph County, and a 70-year member of St. Peter Lutheran Church.

To Mishawaka Mayor Jeff Rea, that kind of commitment to community was a gift that Beutter passed down to his son. "He was a very funny, very kind, very compassionate person," Rea said. "You can see where his son gets it from.

Along with work and community, Beutter was an avowed family man. His son, Robert Beutter, lives in Mishawaka, and his daughter, Barbara D'Achille, lives in Pennsylvania. He lived to experience the joys of eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and a great-great granddaughter, and loved family get-togethers and vacations.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Bubb Funeral Chapel North, 3910 N. Main St. in Mishawaka, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 437 Dragoon Trail East in Mishawaka. The funeral service will be at the church at 10 a.m., with burial to follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter Lutheran Church, 437 Dragoon Trail East, Mishawaka, Ind. 46544.