Dewane Francis Amstutz, 88, died Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at his home in Grangeville, Idaho.
Dwaine and his twin brother Wayne were born in Bluffton, Ohio, to Benjamin and Naomi Amstutz on Aug. 30, 1922. When he was 4 years old his mother died and in 1931 his father was remarried to Elma Diller.
He grew up on the family farm in Putnam County, and graduated from Pandora High School in 1941. In 1943, he and Wayne joined the Army Air Corp during WWII, becoming fighter pilots. He retired from the Federal Aviation Agency where he worked as an Air Traffic Control Specialist for 34 years.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth. They were married June 7, 1947. The couple has 7 children, 18 grandchildren, and 30 great grandchildren.
He and Ruth spent most of their lives in Bluffton, but have lived in Grangeville, Idaho, for the past 10 years, where they moved to be closer to some of their children and grandchildren.
Dwaine is survived by his wife and his children and their spouses: Diane (Dick) Badertscher of Grangeville, Ken (Doris) Amstutz of Mission Viejo, Calif., Sue (Steve) Yant of Six Mile, S.C., Greg (Pattie) Amstutz of Ensenada, Mexico, Sharon (Carl) Sommer of Conrad, Mont., Sandy (Rod) Kantner of Grangeville, and Beverly (Kevin) Hahn of Grangeville., along with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He is also survived by his twin brother Wayne (Louise) Amstutz of Bluffton, and brother Maynard (Mary) Amstutz of Nashville, Tenn.
He was preceded in death by his mother Naomi, father Benjamin, step mother Elma, sister Kathleen Kindle, and step brother Harold Diller.
Funeral services are Saturday, April 23 at 11 a.m. at the Grangeville, Idaho, Church of the Nazarene, 515 W. North 2nd St.
A memorial service and interment will also be held at Ebenezer Mennonite Church, Bluffton, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, family asks that memorial contributions be made to: GIOF (Genesis International Orphanage Foundation), which was founded by his sons, Greg and Ken Amstutz, at P.O. Box 6458, Chula Vista, CA. 91909. Send condolences to the family to: Blackmerfuneralhome.com
