Lothar F. ‘Butch’ Wolter, 77, of NYA

Lothar F. “Butch” Wolter, 77, of Norwood Young America (NYA) died Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, at his residence.
A memorial service was held Friday, Nov. 14, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in NYA, with the Rev. David Winter officiating. Serving as urn bearers were his godchildren, Tim Wolter and DeAnn Buss. Interment was in the Ferguson Cemetery in NYA.
Lothar Frederick Wolter Jr. was born the son of Lothar F. and Linda D. (Harms) Wolter Sr. on May 22, 1937, in Young America Township in Carver County. He was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in NYA on June 6, 1937, by the Rev. W.P. Kramer, and later confirmed in the faith at St. John’s on March 22, 1951, also by the Rev. Kramer.
Mr. Wolter was united in marriage to Gladys R. Wolff on Oct. 15, 1960, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in NYA by the Rev. John Melchert.
On April 2, 1960, he enlisted in the Army Reserve, in which he served until February 1966, being discharged with the rank of sergeant.
Along with farming in partnership with his brother Curtis, Mr. Wolter served in a number of local government positions. He served as the Young America Township clerk for 44 years, and as a director on the Minnesota Association of Townships for 33 years, with 13 of those years as president. He also served as a director on the Board of the National Association of Towns and Townships, with two of those years as president. He also was a member of the Carver County Board of Adjustment and a member of the Carver County Township Association as both its president and treasurer. Because of his demonstrated capabilities of leadership at the local county, state and national levels of township government, the Carver County Association of Townships nominated him for the 1988 Dave Durenberger Grassroots Leadership Award. He was currently serving on the Misery Creek Ditch Association and the Norwood Young America Senior Advisory Committee.
Besides Mr. Wolter’s passion for grassroots local government, he had a love for people and the farm. He operated a successful dairy and later concentrated on beef cattle. He was a loving neighbor and friend who enjoyed a visit and a good debate. He was a friend of Bill W. for over 22 years.
He is survived by his loving family: wife of 54 years, Gladys Wolter; sons, Scott Wolter of NYA and Gary Wolter of Mankato; brother, Curtis (Deanna) Wolter of NYA; brother-in-law, Duane Wolff of NYA; nieces and nephews, Julie (Mike) Damann of Maynard, Tim (Sonja) Wolter of NYA, Rita (Steve) Yetzer of Waconia; Luke (Heidi) Wolter of Minneapolis; DeAnn (Tim) Buss of Eden Prairie, Cheryl (Bruce) Clark of NYA and Nadine (Mark) Ditsch of Cologne; aunts and uncle, Lorraine and Mezzenga of Florida and Malinda Stoeckmann of NYA; other relatives and many dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lothar and Linda Wolter Sr.; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Waldon and Elvira Wolff; and sister-in-law, Elaine Wolff.
Arrangements were with the Johnson Funeral Home of Waconia, www.johnsonfh.com.