Paul Luthi

He was born on the family farm in Switzerland on January 14, 1943 to the late Nothburga Luthi-Moor and Fridolin (Fritz) Luthi.

Mr. Luthi spent his boyhood on the Swiss farm, where farm life and Hürlimann tractors inspired his lifelong interest in engineering. He carried that practical spirit into his service as a Swiss Army veteran, keeping his official issued Swiss Army knife for the rest of his life. Mr. Luthi completed an apprenticeship at ABB and earned a Master of Business degree at the Raeber School in Zurich. He met his future wife, Nelly, at a language school in England. They were married on August 9, 1969 and just weeks later, his job took the newlyweds to New York where they soon started a family.

The family relocated to Rome in 1979, where Mr. Luthi became the President of Suhner Manufacturing, Inc., building it into a respected market leader in precision manufacturing and sustaining skilled local jobs. He was an engineer in temperament, an executive just as comfortable on the shop floor as he was in the boardroom. His work took him all over the United States, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Beyond the plant, he served on the boards of Redmond Hospital and Brugg Cable and was a longtime member of the Rome Rotary Club, Coosa Country Club, and First Presbyterian Church of Rome. An ardent follower of Formula 1 and Indy Car racing, he maintained a lifelong affection for tractors, Jaguars and Volvos, hobbies that honored the engineering virtues he admired. He also proudly became a naturalized citizen who took genuine joy in American history and politics.

His family spanned the Atlantic, with daughters who grew up to bridge two continents. The transatlantic flights, the split holidays, and the time zones, never diminished their closeness.

He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Nelly Luthi; his daughters, Sybille Luthi Petersen and her husband Flemming of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Astrid Luthi Breakfield and her husband John of Flowery Branch, Georgia; his four grandchildren, Josephine and Caroline Petersen, and Jack and Gage Breakfield. His grandchildren knew him affectionately as Morfar and Papa. He is also survived by two sisters Hedwig (Hedi) Egli-Luthi and Pia Brunschwiler-Luthi and her husband Bruno.

Paul Luthi arrived in America with a gift for machinery and a capacity for work, but his greatest focus remained the close family he built across oceans and generations. He leaves behind a community he helped shape, and a family that will always hold him in their hearts.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Advent and Atrium Hospitals, the caregivers from Right at Home and Heyman Hospice Care.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 1:00 pm in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church (101 E Third Ave., Rome, Georgia). A memorial service will immediately follow at 2:00 pm.

Daniels Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the services for Mr. Paul Luthi.