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Jack Niel Sutter, 95, of Brownsville, Texas, went into eternal rest at his home on February 2, 2021.
Jack was a longtime Brownsville resident and a prominent member of the community.
Jack Niel Sutter was born in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the son of Guy Wallace and Mildred Eleanor Sutter. The family moved to South Texas when he was a child. Jack was a high-ranking student and graduated as a salutatorian from Brownsville High School in 1942.
During his first year at Texas A&M, he volunteered to join the United States Army Air Force to fight in World War II. He was a bomber and navigator on B 29. He spoke fondly of his memories of the war and recounted that he was stationed in Guam and his last flight over Tokyo as a first lieutenant.
After the war he returned to Texas A&M, and returned home to help his father run the family farm. The following year, he married the love of his life, Miss “Billie” Knight. Jack and Billie made their home on Old Port Isabel Road, where they spent almost 70 years together until his death in 2017.
Jack had a long and successful agricultural career, serving on various boards in both agriculture and business in the Valley. He helped establish Brownsville Cotton Gin and was one of the first commercial aloe vera producers in the Rio Grande Valley.
He broadened his career and took classes to become a stockbroker, working for many years at Shearson Lehman Brothers. People trusted him and asked him for financial advice. When he retired from this, he returned to his passion for agriculture.
His success led him to many philanthropic opportunities to give to various organizations over the years. One of Jack and Billie’s favorite charities was donating hundreds of food packages to the Gladys Porter Zoo. In his later years, Jack would still enjoy going to the zoo to feed the giraffes.
Although Jack and Billie never had children, they both loved each niece and nephew as if they were their own. As the years passed, the family grew to love and appreciate. Many good memories and bonds were created over the years.
The family would like to thank Emma Mascorro, Joe Barajas and Bernice Trejo for the love and care given to Jack and Billie in their later years. Both Jack and Billie were able to spend those golden years in the comfort of their own home with the help of these dedicated people.
Jack is preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 69 years, Wanda “Billie” Sutter, his sister, Evelyn White, nephews, James A. Bennett Jr., Louis Sandoz, David Sandoz and his niece Barbara Newberry.
His sisters, Anne Stahlman and Sue Sutter, as well as numerous family members remain to cherish his memory.
Jack was deeply loved and will be deeply missed not only by his family and friends, but also by those fortunate to have met him.
The pallbearers are José Barajas, Fred Guzman, Mont Stahlman, Gig Wade, Bryan Sturdivant, and the honorary bearer is Bruce Bennett.
The visit will take place on Sunday, February 7, 2021 from 1 pm to 5 pm at Funeraria Del Ángel Rose Lawn. Chapel service will be held on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 9 am followed by a burial at 9:30 am at Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens located at 4464 Old Port Isabel Rd., Brownsville, Texas.
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