In Memory
Roland James Tuttle
Jul. 27, 1938 - May 8, 2010
WAKARUSA - Roland James "Rollie" Tuttle, 71, of Wakarusa, went to be with the Lord, his wife Dawn, and son, "Little Rollie," on Saturday at 12:45 p.m. at Miller's Merry Manor in Wakarusa. Rollie was born July 27, 1938, in Beloit, WI, to the late Roland B. and Abbie (Jenkins) Tuttle, and had lived in Wakarusa since 1976.
On February 20, 1960, in South Bend, Rollie married Dawn Montague. Dawn preceded him in death in 2004. He was also preceded in death by his son, Roland L. Tuttle in 1976. Surviving are daughter, Sharon (Dennis) Forte of Wakarusa; son, Scott (Lisa) Tuttle of Wakarusa; daughter, Gayle Tuttle of Michigan; daughter, Cheryl Beard of Ohio; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; two brothers, Burt (Linda) Tuttle of Elkhart and Pete (Carmen) Tuttle of Virginia; three sisters, Virginia (Bob) Shearer of Florida, Dorothy Tuttle of Tennessee and Sara Tuttle of Tennessee.
A 1957 graduate of South Bend Clay High School, Rollie joined the U.S. Navy where he served for four years. After some time working at Adams-Westlake in Elkhart, Rollie joined the Elkhart Police Department in 1968, where he served for 25 years, until 1994. During his time on the force, Rollie served as president of the Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.), in the Juvenile Dept., as a detective, and was the founder of the first D.A.R.E program. Rollie also served as "Officer Friendly" - a liaison between the Police Dept. and the Elkhart Community Schools.
When he worked in the Juvenile Department, he would often bring troubled teens home with him for the weekend instead of letting them sit in the jail. He and Dawn also served as foster parents for a number of troubled teens over the years. Rollie's home was always a safe haven for such teens. Two sisters who came from a broken home touched his heart and Rollie ended up adopting them (Cheryl and Gayle), and welcoming them into the Tuttle family on a permanent basis.
Rollie also served as president of the Wakarusa Lions Club, as well as commissioner of the Northern Indiana BMX League, in which his son, Scott, participated. After retirement from the police department, Rollie and Dawn purchased the Candy Jar located in Pierre Moran mall, which they ran for a number of years. Rollie also purchased a button-making machine and enjoyed going to area festivals such as the Rhapsody in Green. Rollie raised his family in church where he participated in worship services by playing his bass guitar and singing with his deep, bass voice.
Rollie will forever be remembered in the Elkhart community for his caring, servant heart, his lifestyle of giving, and for having an extremely big heart when it came to kids. Despite enduring the tragic death of his first-born son, Rollie made the best of what he had, living a life to be commended and which made a difference in the lives of countless people. Last Saturday he finally got a chance to rest, hearing the words "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home, 403 W. Franklin in Elkhart, and one hour prior to the service on Thursday where a service celebrating Rollie's life will be held at 10 A.M. in the River of Life Community Church, 2626 Prairie St., Elkhart. Rev. Leonard Cook will officiate. Burial will take place at Olive Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the River of Life Community Church.
Published in South Bend Tribune on May 11, 2010.
10/07/2022 DEC
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