Mayor Robert Beutter, who held office for 20 years, died on Thursday according to family. He was born in Mishawaka in April of 1935, graduated from IU earned a law degree in Bloomington and went on to serve in the US Army Judge Advocate General Corps.

After returning home and spending 8 years on the city’s legal staff he was elected mayor in 1984. Beyond just his time in office he served on numerous community boards and earned just as many community service awards and honors–including two Sagamore of the Wabash awards.

Speaking with the South Bend Tribune, another former mayor Jeff Rea said “You won’t find anyone in Mishawaka’s history that had a greater impact on the community”.