Nicholas Erhard Stotz, 62 yrs, of Ida, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, October 5, while walking on his farmstead. Friends may call at the Capaul Funeral Home, Ida, Thursday from 11 AM to 9 PM. He will lie in state at East Ida Immanuel Lutheran Church Friday from 10 AM until services at 11 AM. Pastor Bruce Lucas will officiate. Burial will be in East Ida Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery where Military Honors will be under the auspices of Lynn C. Weeman, American Legion Post 514.

Nicholas was born on December 29, 1945, in Monroe, to Harold A. and Virginia A. (Kohler) Stotz. He attended Ida Public Schools and played clarinet in the band. He graduated from Ida High School in 1963,  attended Michigan State University and Monroe County Community College. Serving in the US Army from 1967-1969, he was a Spec 4 in the US Army Corps and was a radio teletype operator assigned to Co. B, 502 Military Intelligence Battalion in Korea. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from Michigan State University.

For the past 16 yrs he worked as a freight handler for FHI, Inc, at the Meijer Distribution Center in Newport. In the past he also worked for Smith Brothers in Erie and The Anderson's in Maumee.  For many years he sold produce, popcorn and sorghum at the Monroe Farmers Market with his parents, uncle and cousins.

He was a lifelong member of East Ida Immanuel Lutheran Church, where he was baptized and confirmed. He served as a superintendent in the produce building at the Monroe County Fair. As a youth, he was a member of the Clover Clubbers 4-H Club and the FFA. Nick enjoyed being out-of-doors and was committed to preserving open farmland. He admired the Amish lifestyle and enjoyed making many trips to Ohio to the Kidron and Mt. Hope auctions. He lived a quiet life and loved reading, watching movies, and collecting antique farm tools. He once rode his motorcycle to the Pacific Ocean and later spent nearly four months riding motorcycles around the continent of Australia.

He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Phillip C. and Becky Stotz, of Springfield, IL; his sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Ken Miller of Monroe; 3 nieces and a nephew, Mary Liz Davis of Pierre, SD, John Stotz of Chicago, IL, Jessica Schaffhausen of Springfield, IL, and Miranda Miller of Monroe. Also surviving are 4 grand nieces and one grand nephew, Eryn Schlotte, Amara, Sophie and Cecelia Schaffhausen, and Leeam Davis; an aunt and uncle, Donna and Erhard Stotz, and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; aunts and uncles, Mildred and Leland Dick, Calvin Kohler, Lydia and Wilbur Heck, and Herbert and Dorothy Stotz; and a cousin, Bob Heck.

Memorial contributions may be made to the East Ida Immanuel Lutheran Church or the ISD Transition Center Greenhouse Program.

Online condolences may be sent to: www.capaulfuneralhome.com.

1945 - 2008

Nicholas Erhard Stotz