Claude F. Sutherland, 92, of Mercer, died peacefully Friday, May 27, 2011, with his loving family by his side, at Seasons of Life Hospice House in Woodruff.      He was born March 21, 1919, in Cedar River, Mich., son of the late Turi and Pearl (Parrett) Sutherland. He attended the Morse State Graded School in Morse and Mellen High School in Mellen. He then worked in a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in Drummond.      Claude entered the U.S. Army on March 3, 1941, proudly serving his country during World War II in the 70th Armored Infantry Battalion in the Aleutian Islands, and was honorably discharged as a technical sergeant on Oct. 5, 1945.      Following his discharge, he came to Mercer and worked at the Keith Jesse Sawmill. He then was employed with the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for a short time and was a self-employed painting contractor for many years until his retirement.      Claude was a member of Hurley Lodge # 237 Free and Accepted Masons, and was recently honored by the lodge for being a 50-year member. He was also a member of the original Mercer Wildlife and Wetlands Club and a life member of Mercer Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9536.      Claude loved hunting and fishing and spending time at his hunting shack in Upson, and was a big Green Bay Packers fan. He enjoyed carving and whittling ducks and walking sticks, using them as gifts for family and friends. He also loved to travel and tell stories, and especially loved children. He was a generous, kind, gentle and fun loving man with a hearty laugh, and will be dearly missed by all of his family and friends.      He was married to the love of his life, June Trowbridge McFarland, in 1977 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Manitowish Waters by the Rev. Aloysius Gostomski.   She preceded him in death in 2008.      Surviving are two sons, John (Barbara) McFarland, Manitowish Waters, and Joe (Ann) McFarland, Waunakee; a daughter, Ann (Jim) Jelinski, Salem, Ore.; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and great-great-great grandchildren; two brothers, Ronald, Othello, Wash., and Russell, Mercer; four sisters, Lorraine Hall, Elaine Mears, and Marjorie Petzel, all of Mercer, and June (Bob) Nelson, Ashland, Ore.; and numerous nieces and nephews.      Besides his parents and wife, Claude was preceded in death by a brother, Vernon, and two sisters, Harriet Clapero and Rosemary Mutanen.      Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 2, at the Mercer United Methodist Church, 2679 Co. Highway J, in Mercer, where a Masonic memorial service will be conducted at 10:30 under the auspices of Hurley Lodge # 237 F & A.M.       Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Kathy Huneywell, pastor, officiating.      Committal and interment will take place in the Mercer Cemetery, where full military rites will be accorded by the Mercer VFW Post 9536 Honor Guard.       Luncheon will be served in the church fellowship hall immediately upon return from the cemetery.      Pall bearers will be John and Joe McFarland, Lee Doriot, Timothy Hall, Brian Sutherland, and Eugene Mears.      Memorial contributions may be made to Seasons of Life Hospice House, 8951 Woodruff Rd., Woodruff, Wis. 54568.      To view Claude's obituary online, sign his guestbook or express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.      Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, Inc., Ironwood.