Raymond “Fritz" J. Stalter Obituary (1927 - 2019)

FLANAGAN- Raymond Joseph "Fritz" Stalter, 91, of Flanagan, passed away at 10:53 AM on Wednesday August 21, 2019 at OSF Saint James Medical Center in Pontiac. Cremation has been accorded and a visitation will be held from 2-4 PM at Prairieview Mennonite Church in Flanagan on Saturday August 24, 2019. Graveside service will be private. Memorials may be given to a local food pantry of the donor's choice. Calvert-Johnson & Froelich Memorial Home in Flanagan is in charge of arrangements. Raymond was born on September 3, 1927 at home on a farm southeast of Flanagan in Waldo Township to Edd and Lena Rozhart Stalter. He married Margery Rocke on December 29, 1945. She preceded him in death on July 8, 2009. Surviving are his four children, Larry (Marcia) Stalter, Cullom; Randy (Sandy) Stalter, Flanagan; Sandra (Glenn) Schertz, Blue Mound; Rebecca (Robert) Martellaro, Wauwatosa, Wisc.; grandchildren, Geoffrey Schertz, Seattle, Wash.; Alison (Collin) Lane, Seattle, Wash.; Katie Stalter (Jeremiah Stapleton), Washington D.C.; John (Katie) Stalter, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Tracy (John) Sondag, Washington, ILL.; Jill Stalter (Davis Richards), Elmhurst; great-grandchildren, Mackenzie and Alaina Sondag; Nora Stalter Stapleton; step-grandchildren, Melissa (Will) Osborn, Saunemin; Jeff (Brenda) Read, Naperville; step-great-grandchildren, Bailey and Bryce Osborn; Ella Read; and a brother Paul Stalter. He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers, Wayne and Edwin "Jack"; and 2 sisters, Mildred and Faye. Raymond farmed the family farm southeast of Flanagan all his life and worked for over two decades at the Pontiac Correctional Center. He was a lifelong member of Prairieview Mennonite Church. He was a lifelong reader and often read three newspapers a day as well as a variety of books such as novels, biographies, political commentary, and books about current events. He was a liberal Democrat in a Republican county. From the days of his youth he had been a Chicago Cubs fan and could recall listening to them on the radio in the 1930's. As a young lad he often stood by the mailbox waiting for the newspaper so he could see what the Cubs did the day before. Later in life he was an avid golfer and was of course proud of his 2 holes-in-one. Having spent all his life in Livingston County, he had many acquaintances and friends. He exemplified the man in the poem; "Let me sit in a house by the side of the road and be a friend to man."