Keith Amstutz

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Keith W. Amstutz, 88, of West Lafayette, Ind., died Friday, May 22, 2009.

Born in Allen County on April 4, 1921, he married Helen Louisa Rater on Aug. 18, 1943.

After serving in the Navy during World War II, he completed his master's degree in agriculture economics at Purdue University in 1949, moved to Forrest, Ill., and served as an executive fieldman, leader of association field staff and assistant state leader/business manager for the Illinois Farm Business Farm Management Association.

In 1984, he was honored with the Gamma Sigma Delta Award of Merit by the international honor society of agriculture when he was cited for his long-term contributions to the development of farm business analysis and record keeping systems. He served for 15 years as president of the Forrest Community School Board, was a longtime member of the Lions Club and was appointed Forrest Township Supervisor in 1984. After retiring in 1985 from the FBFM, he devoted his time to several part-time jobs involving fishing, income tax preparation and farm real estate appraisal.

After living in Illinois for 58 years, he and his wife returned to this area and resided for the past two years at Westminster Village.

Mr. Amstutz was an enthusiastic traveler and loved exploring. Most recently, he celebrated his wife's 98th birthday by traveling to Florida with his daughters.

Surviving besides his wife of 65 years are four children, Sharon in Los Angeles, Susan in Indianapolis, Paul in Galesburg, Ill., and John in Lafayette; two brothers, Robert Amstutz and Vaughn Amstutz, both of Lafayette; and a sister, Elizabeth Greenwald of West Lafayette. Also surviving are five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, who have benefited from his guidance and wisdom, as well as the many family members and friends whose lives he so positively touched.

A memorial service in Keith's honor will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, at Soller-Baker West Lafayette Funeral Home, 1184 Sagamore Parkway, West Lafeyette, Ind. The family will hold a private celebration of his life afterward.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Westminster Village

Foundation, 2741 N. Salisbury, West Lafayette, IN 47906 or to the Forrest Lions Club; www.soller-baker.com.