James “Jimmy, Jim, Uncle” Dennis Sutter died peacefully at the age of 78 in his home in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 25, 2025. Born on April 13, 1946, to the late Henrietta Sutter (née Purol) and the late Earl Theodore Sutter I, Jim grew up in Lisle, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. In his youth, he was a member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, where he served as an altar boy, and graduated from St. Procopius College Academy in Lisle. While in high school, he wrote for and managed the Herald school newspaper, was manager of the basketball team, and was on the track team for 3 years.
After high school at 18 years of age, Jim enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served from August 13th,1964 through August 12th,1967 and was honorably discharged with a rank of Sergeant. He served one tour in South Vietnam and was part of Operation Starlite. He wrote this on the 50th anniversary of the day he arrived in Vietnam:
“50 years ago today, May 7, 1965 the 1st Marine Brigade aboard ships in the South China Sea off the coast of South Vietnam (formerly known as French-Indo China) conducted an amphibious landing in the area soon to be known as Chu Lai (RVN). The landing was unopposed by the enemy (Viet Cong) forces. My unit, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion 4th Marines was aboard the U.S.S. Henrico (APA 45). We threw our legs over the ship rail and climbed down cargo netting into Higgins boats. We had full field marching packs on our backs, M-14 rifles with bayonets, 180 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, 2 hand grenades, 1 smoke grenade. I also had to haul the spare barrel and parts bag and 200 rounds of 7.62 ammunition for a M-60 machine gun. In addition, we had to wear an oversized life vest left over from World War Il. The temperature was over 100 degrees and the humidity even worse. Thus began an adventure that changed most of our lives forever. Semper Fidelis!”
Jim was the recipient of various medals and awards:
Presidential Unit Citation with ribbon bar awarded the 3d MarDiv for service in Vietnam from 1965-1967
Navy Unit Commendation with ribbon bar awarded the 7th Regimental Landing Team for service in Vietnam 1965
Good Conduct Medal and Certificate for Service 13 Aug 64 to 12 Aug 67
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnamese Service Medal
He was extremely proud of his service in the USMC.
Upon his discharge from the military, Jim worked as a carpenter and then for a family friend, Irwin J. Wagner, who owned a motorcycle repair shop. In 1972, he incorporated the Indian
Motorcycle Supply Company in Sugar Grove, Illinois. He spent nearly 30 years in business restoring, remanufacturing and selling parts and rebuilding Indian Motorcycles. He became the owner of original Indian Motorcycle Company trademark and patents and was the only authorized distributor of genuine Indian parts. Ready for retirement, he sold his inventory and the Indian Motorcycle trademark in 1999 and in 2001 he moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where he lived a comfortable life until his death.
Throughout his life, Jim was a big motorcycle enthusiast and attended many Bike Weeks across the country in places like Daytona Beach, Florida, Springfield, Illinois and Mid-Ohio, to name a few. He was a friend to many famous motorcycle racers. He enjoyed telling stories and repeating family history. He was an avid pool player. He loved dining out and had many friends at his favorite establishments like Sam’s Place in St. Charles Illinois, Sugar Creek in Sugar Grove Illinois, Side Street Inn, Honolulu and the Mai Tai Bar at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki Beach. His friendships were deeply important to him, and he valued the connections he made at these places over the years. He will be missed by many.
Jim is preceded in death by his brother, Earl T. Sutter, II (2024) and he is survived by his two nieces, Aimee E. Aryal and Nicole J. Sutter and his two great-nieces, Annapurna E. Aryal and Maya K. Aryal; his extended family Shelley Brown, Stephanie Peterson, Tyler Hughes and Nancy Benninger, Jesse and Melina Johnasen, Alex, Ricki, and Fable Kaleikula-Velleses; and his dear friends Bill Bailey, Fred Dauer, Kevin Olliges, Jesse Rowell, and many, many more treasured friends who enriched his life.