Walter W. Stotzer

Walter W. Stotzer, 91, of Mineral City passed away early Sunday, January 21, 2018.

He was born on July 15, 1926 the son of Veronica and John Stotzer of Somerdale. When he was one year old, the family moved to a farm near Mineral City, which was later known as Alpine View Farms and was popular for their Swiss cow bells and Swiss cheese, which they produced. There were 12 children in the family and they all shared the farm work. He walked a mile to a one room schoolhouse for four years and then attended Mineral City School.
In 1948 he spent a year in Switzerland working on farms. While there, he attended the winter Olympics.

He married Gladys Young on September 21, 1952. They purchased their dairy farm where they worked with their three sons. He spent long hours plowing, planting, harvesting, and milking Holstein cows. He had a talent to repair things and enjoyed making wall shelves and wood carvings. He was interested in soil conservation and was proud of the tiling that he did on his farm.

Gladys and Walter enjoyed traveling through the 50 states and many countries. He was proud of his Swiss heritage and made 17 return trips to Switzerland. He continued to work on the farm as long as his health permitted. He enjoyed time spent with the family, gator rides, making wine, and playing euchre.

He was a 49 year Charter Member of the Tusky Valley Ruritans, where he had perfect attendance. He was also a member of the Sandy Valley Eagles, Tuscarawas County Farm Bureau, St. Paul’s Community Church, and was a 15 year member of the Soil and Water Conservation Board, former member of the Stark County Milk Producers, Director of the Dairy Service Unit, Canton Swiss Club Society, and was on the Farm Bureau Board of Directors.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gladys Young on April 29, 2017; three brothers, John, Bobby, and Fritz Stotzer; six sisters, Mary Kilchenman, Martha Leeman, Clara Vogt, Ida Shaffer, Grace Specht, and Feida Lieser; brothers-in-law, John Young and Raymond (Dorothy) Young.

He will be sadly missed by his three sons; Mike (Kim) Stotzer, David (Kathy) Stotzer of Mineral City, Dan (Lori) Stotzer of Zoarville; six grandchildren, Nick (Leah) Stotzer, Steph (Anthony) Pariano, Kyle Stotzer, Megan Stotzer, Lauren Stotzer, and Logan Stotzer; two great grandchildren, Brianna and Brayden Stotzer; sisters, Ruth “Rudy” Breniser, and Helen (Victor) Kollar; sisters-in-law, Margene (John “Pete”) Hicks, Ruth Young, and Janet Stotzer.

A celebration of Walter’s life will take place at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Homes & Crematory in Dover on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 10:00 am with Pastor Mark Gross officiating. Interment will take place at New Cumberland Cemetery. Following the service of committal, a meal will be served at St. Paul Community Church in Mineral City. Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 from 4-7pm. Those unable to attend, or who would like to share a fond memory of Walter may do so by visiting the obituary link on the funeral home’s website.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Tusky Valley Ruritan, 8687 Eberhart Rd, Dover, Ohio 44622.