James Allen Lautzenhiser

James Allen Lautzenhiser, 82, of Wooster, passed awa on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare after a brief illness.

Jim was born on Aug. 5, 1942, in Moreland to Charles William and Rosabelle (Calhoun) Lautzenhiser and was a 1960 graduate of Waynedale High School.  He served in the U.S. Army from 1967 – 1969 during the Vietnam War and was the recipient of the Purple Heart.  On Sept. 25, 1970, he married Marla K. Justice of Creston, and she survives.  Jim retired from the City of Wooster in 2007 after 35 years of service where he was fondly called ”Lautzy”. Remembered as the “Neighborhood Helper” Jim enjoyed working on lawn mowers and tinkering in his garage.  He enjoyed his workouts at Health Point where he was known as the “Candy Man” or the “Tomato Man” and he always had a smile on his face and story to tell. His greatest enjoyment was his family, especially the grandkids and the great-grandkids.

Surviving is his wife Marla of nearly 55 years; his daughter, Tina Jane Sprowls; his 3 grandchildren, Tasha, Travis and Jared Sprowls; 3 great-grandchildren that he adored, Kaeden, Brynn and Amina; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Kenneth Brown, Pat and Tom Gerber and Liz Justice; nieces and nephews and many that he was an honorary Dad to.

Jim was preceded in death by his sons, Larry on Aug. 27, 2009, and Brian on April 1, 2025; his parents, and sisters, Barbara McIntyre, Margaret Polen, Linda Sipes and Mary Brown.

Friends may call Saturday, July 12th from 2-4 p.m. at Murray Funeral Home in Creston where services will be held at 4:00 p.m.  Burial will be in Creston Maple Mound Cemetery at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691.