Columbia City, IN. Obituaries

Feb 1, 2023

Robert Eugene Bowers, age 60, of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 6:55 am on Wednesday February 1, 2023, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne.  Born on March 12, 1962, in Fort Wayne, he was the son of Donald and Patricia (Alcorn) Bowers.

Robert attended North Manchester High School.  He worked for Campbell’s as a tow...

Jan 25, 2023

Shirley Ann Palmer, 85, of Columbia City, Indiana and formerly of Larwill, passed away Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at her home. Born October 10, 1937 in Auburn, she was the daughter of Paul and Amelia (Miller) Ruppert.

Her family moved from DeKalb to Huntington County where Shirley attended school in Andrews and was proud that...

Jan 25, 2023

Betty Jean Bills, 88, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at her home. Born December 19, 1934 in Morocco, she was the daughter of Joseph and Beulah (Lake) Dalton.

She lived in Newton County for the first part of her life and by the end of her grade school, Betty's family moved to...

Jan 13, 2023

Robert "Bob" Dwight Cornmesser, 96, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away Friday, January 13, 2023 at Parkview Regional Medical Center. Born February 9, 1926 in Green City, Missouri he was the son of Sigel and Lula (Downing) Cornmesser.

He graduated from East High School in Waterloo, Iowa with the Class of 1943 and had attended Iowa State....

Jan 11, 2023

Dianna Lawson, 73, of Columbia City, Ind., previously Logansport, passed away peacefully on January 11th, surrounded by her family.

Born January 9, 1950, in Linton, Ind., she was the daughter of William E. and Nancy (Openshaw) Stahl.

Dianna attended Switz City High School where she was a cheerleader, member of the...

Jan 10, 2023

June Elizabeth Wilson, 89, of Mattawan, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 in McKinney, Texas where she had been living with her daughter for the past few years. Born August 16, 1933 in Churubusco, Indiana, she was the daughter of William and Lalah (Zolman) Rowland.

She attended Warsaw High School and on June 14, 1952, she...

Jan 8, 2023

Stefan Mannes, age 90, of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 8:01 pm on Sunday January 8, 2023, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne.

Born on August 29, 1932, in Klenak, Yugoslavia, he was the son of Peter and Justina (Kretler) Mannes.

He immigrated to the United States on February 22, 1952, from a...

Jan 8, 2023

Janice Ilene Clingerman, 77, of Kimmel, Indiana, passed away Sunday, January 8, 2023 at her home surrounded with family. Born September 13, 1945 in South Whitley, she was the daughter of Dale and Maxine (Shriver) Reichard.

She graduated from Larwill High School with the Class of 1963. On November 3, 1963, she married Tony Clingerman Sr. in...

Jan 7, 2023

Mary Jane Runyan, age 81, of Albion, IN passed away at 11:07 pm on Saturday, January 7, 2023 at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne.  Born on July 29, 1941, in Fort Wayne, she was the daughter of James M. Albert and Helen (Deck) Potter.

Mary had been an Allen County resident before she moved to Noble...

Jan 5, 2023

James R. Semler, age 81, of Churubusco, IN, passed away at 4:05 pm on Thursday January 5, 2023, at his residence.  Born on June 28, 1941, in Fort Wayne, he was the son of Paul and Marydell (McBride) Semler.

James attended local schools before becoming an independent contractor and carpet layer for over 30 years.

...

Jan 2, 2023

Lois Ann Downing, age 82, of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 6:04 pm on Monday January 2, 2023, at her residence.  Born on May 9, 1940, in Whitley County, she was the daughter of Herschel and Helen (LaRue) Coulter.

Lois attended Coesse High School and graduated with the Class of 1958.  On August 15, 1959, she...

Jan 1, 2023

Donald G. Wilhelm, 78, of Allen County, passed away Sunday, January 1, 2023 with his daughter by his side. Born April 13, 1944 in Columbia City, he was the son of Edward and Genevera (Gaff) Wilhelm.

Don grew up working on the family farm. For over 40 years, he was a truck driver, with the handle "Tree...

Dec 30, 2022

Bonnie L. Hollenbaugh, age 90, of Columbia City, IN, passed away Friday, December 30, 2022, at StoryPoint West, Fort Wayne.  Born on January 29, 1932, in Whitley County, she was the daughter of Gerald and Ruth (Wilson) Beck.

Bonnie attended Washington Center High School and graduated with the Class of 1950. On October 29, 1950, she married...

Dec 30, 2022

Linda L. Mahoney, 60, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Friday, December 30, 2022 at The Waters of Columbia City. Born December 26, 1962 in East Chicago, she was the daughter of  Conrad "Mac" Lisek and Margaret (Burton) Van Til.

She graduated from Merrillville Senior High School with class of 1981 and from Indiana Tech with a...

Dec 30, 2022

Thomas Lee Clark, 82, of Whitley County, passed away Friday, December 30, 2022 at his farm house in Jefferson Township. Born April 11, 1940 in Fort Wayne, he was the son of Thomas A. and Lillian M. (Grodrian) Clark.

In 1952, Tom moved to Whitley County. He attended Jefferson Center High School until he was a Junior...

Dec 29, 2022

Julia A. McQueen, 68, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Thursday, December 29, 2022 at her home. Born March 2, 1954 in Columbia City, she was the daughter of Donald and Edith (Schrader) Chapman.

While attending Columbia City Joint High School, Julia enjoyed playing basketball and graduated with the Class of 1972. She would go on to...

Dec 26, 2022

Marianne VanEmon, 70, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Monday, December 26, 2022 at her home. Born January 1, 1952 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, she was the daughter of Alfred and Cornelia (Lemmers) Sopjes.

She graduated from Kalamazoo Christian High School with the Class of 1970 and Bronson Hospital of Nursing. On May 16, 1981, she married Brian...

Dec 24, 2022

Edward Gray Rollins, age 86, of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 1:45 am on Saturday December 24, 2022, at his residence.  Born on May 10, 1936, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, he was the son of Fred and Hixie (Tedder) Rollins.

Edward attended Wayne Memorial High School, Wayne, Michigan and graduated with the Class of 1954.  He then...

Dec 22, 2022

Barbara Ruth Kessie, 97, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Thursday, December 22, 2022 at Mason Health Care Center in Warsaw. Born to Methodist missionary parents in Kongju, Korea on December 24, 1924,  she was the daughter of Charles and Edith (Anderson) Amendt. Her early schooling for six years was provided by her mother in their home. In 1937...

Dec 15, 2022

John Devon Jagger, age 93, of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 7:45 am on Thursday December 15, 2022, at The Waters of Columbia City.  Born on October 14, 1929, in Whitley County, he was the son of John and Audrey (Egolf) Jagger.

John attended Columbia City High School and graduated with the Class of 1947.  On...