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In Memory

Stan Mutti

  

Stan Mutti

Sept. 9, 1934 - July 10, 2013
SOUTH BEND - Stanley E. Mutti, 78, of South Bend and Bremen, passed away peacefully at St. Joseph's Medical Center on July 10, 2013 after a short illness.

Stan was born in Bremen on September 9, 1934 to Oscar E. and Fern Smith Mutti. Both preceded him in death. He is survived by nieces, Barbara (Michael) Stillson of Bremen and Diane K. Monhaut of Chicago; great-nieces, Staci Hendricks and Misti Hendricks of Bremen; great-nephews, Corky Hendricks of Bremen and Matthew (Whitney) Stillson of Wakarusa; great-great nephews, Dylan Swanson of Bremen, and Zephen Xaver and Zachary Xaver of Plymouth; and great-great niece, Jensyn Enders of Bremen.

His three older sisters and their husbands preceded him in death: Irene (Ralph) Monhaut, Doris (Devon) Pittman and Martha (Ivar) Martin, all of Bremen. Also preceding him in death were nephews, Michael Eugene Monhaut and Jack R. Pittman; and nieces, Ellen Marie Monhaut and Sandra L. Pittman Eby, all of Bremen.

After completing grades 1 through 8 at St. Paul's Lutheran School in Bremen, Stan graduated from Bremen High School in 1952. In 1951, Stan and his dance partner Carol Weston Schmeltz won second place in the talent contest at the Bourbon Fair by dancing the "Charleston" after arriving at the stage in Stan's Model T Ford.

In 1956, Stan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He was a member of Delta Chi fraternity and has remained in touch with many fraternity brothers over the past 60 years. The highlight of Stan's undergraduate years was spending his junior year studying in France (Grenoble and Besancon). This sparked Stan's lifelong love of all things French.

After earning his Master's degree from Indiana University Bloomington in 1960, Stan continued his language education through the National Defense Educational Act ("NDEA.") In the summer of 1963, Stan completed the first level of the NDEA Language Institute through a University of Notre Dame program in Three Rivers, Quebec, Canada. Stan completed the second level of the program through the University of Massachusetts, spending the summer of 1964 in Arcachon, France.

Stan began his teaching career at John Adams High School in January, 1958. He taught French and a variety of math classes there until his 1993 retirement. Stan often mentioned his many enjoyable friendships with colleagues across the South Bend school system. Over the years, he fondly recalled his Adams students and their supportive families. Just recently, he again spoke of the "Class of 1966," referring to them as "one of the best groups ever to pass through Adams" during his teaching career.

Stan fulfilled his military obligation by serving in the U.S. Army reserves (artillery) from 1957 through 1963.

Stan diligently served as the Smith/Mutti family historian, conducting research of his Smith (German) and Mutti (Swiss) ancestry during his European travels in the 1960s and 1970s.

Stan enjoyed traveling and meeting new people. No matter his age, Stan could strike up a conversation with anyone, always interested in hearing their story. Stan's love of information never diminished -- he took great interest in a wide range of documentaries. His family never knew when they might be quizzed on the origin of a word or an obscure fact he recently learned from a documentary. He watched the French Open for hours just to hear French being spoken in the stadium.

Stan continued to strive to learn at least one new thing every day. His final lesson to his many former students would be "apprenez chaque jour quelque chose de nouveau" (purposefully search for knowledge every day).

Stan's visitation will be held from 2-4 pm on Sunday, July 14, 2013 (fittingly Bastille Day, the French Independence Day) in the Mishler Funeral Home, Bremen, Indiana, followed by a memorial service at 4:00 pm. Pastor Neil Wonnacott will officiate.

The family suggests that any memorial donations be made to the Bremen "Dollars for Scholars" program, which will honor Stan's lifelong love of learning.

09/20/2018 updated JFC

02/26/2024 updated military logh.  JFC