James Eugene “Jimmy” Sutter, age 84, of Shelby, died Sunday morning, February 1, 2026, surrounded by his family at his home.
Jimmy was born July 11, 1941, in Shelby, to the late James A. and Madaline W. (Gutshall) Sutter. He was a 1959 graduate of Union High School.
Well known as a skilled builder, Jimmy worked alongside his father for many years before starting his own company, J&L Construction. Throughout the years, he built and improved countless homes, specializing in roofing, siding, and general construction work.
Jimmy truly enjoyed the simple things that made life feel complete, such as spending hours caring for his property (especially on the mower) and unwinding in his “man cave.” It was his favorite place to be, surrounded by his impressive and extensive neon sign collection while visiting with friends. He enjoyed and took great pride in his “toys”- classic cars, mowers, motorcycles, and guns, to name a few.
Always on the go, Jimmy stayed busy right up to the very end. Proud and independent, he never wanted or expected help from anyone. He and his wife, Linda, shared many adventures throughout their marriage, and their nightly tradition of dining out led to countless friendships as familiar faces at many local restaurants.
Jimmy is survived by his loving wife of nearly 43 years, Linda (Keipp) Sutter, whom he married February 21, 1983; his sons: Bradly James (Kathy) Sutter of Chillicothe and Shannon James Sutter of Shelby; 6 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; in-laws: Karl David (Janet) Keipp and Alice Snyder; and numerous other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandsons: Dustin Sutter and Brandon Sutter.
It was Jimmy’s wish for his graveside services at Oakland Cemetery to be private.
Care for Jimmy and his family is being provided by the Penwell Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby. Condolences may be left on the funeral home’s website (PenwellFuneralHome.com) or Facebook page.
Funeral Home: Penwell Funeral Home
Website: www.PenwellFuneralHome.com