Jude F. Sutter, 1929-2012: Retired lawyer known as fighter for underdog

1/3/2013

Jude F. Sutter, who in a half-century of law practice represented his clients with tenacity, died Monday in his Sylvania Township home. He was 83.

He had Alzheimer's disease, said his son, Scott.

Mr. Sutter had a general law practice in West Toledo with the firm of Kroncke, D'Arcangelo, Sutter, and Furey. He represented individuals and businesses and handled personal injury, probate, and real estate.

“He was always fighting for the underdog," his son said. “He fought to the very end if he thought the person was in the right.”

Wood County Common Pleas Judge Robert Pollex, his son-in-law, said: “He seemed to relate to his clients and took their cases seriously.”

Mr. Sutter was born April 26, 1929, to Jane and Frank Sutter. He was a 1947 graduate of Central Catholic High School and was an Army veteran.

He was a graduate of the University of Detroit and took night classes to get his law degree from the University of Toledo. He was a former president of the law school alumni association.

He was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1959 and early on was in practice with his mother, who retired in 1971 after 50 years of legal practice. He was a former president of the Lucas County Bar and the Toledo Junior Bar associations.

He was an early member of Christ the King Church and volunteered for many church causes and committees. He and his second wife, Anna, met at a dance for widows and widowers and danced weekly until a month ago.

“He loved to live. He loved every part of it,” his daughter Sandy said.

He and the former Nancy Knuth married on Sept. 6, 1952. She died June 12, 2002.

Surviving are his wife, Anna Bogedain Sutter, whom he married Aug. 19, 2005; daughters, Sandy Sutter Pollex and Kat Sutter; son, Scott Sutter; stepdaughter, Anna Nash-Friedman; stepsons, Bob and Don Nash; sister, Mary Hunter; a grandson; five great-grandchildren; step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren.

Visitation is to be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday in the Ansberg-West Funeral Home, with a recitation of the Rosary at 7 p.m. The funeral is to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday in Christ the King Church.

The family suggests tributes to Hospice of Northwest Ohio; the Alzheimer's Association, northwest Ohio chapter; the church; or Northwest Ohio Underdog Rescue.