Janice K. Kimpel

Janice K. Kimpel, age 66, of Columbia City, IN passed away Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, IN.Born on January 9, 1949, in Fort Wayne, she was the daughter of Julius Zumbrun and Alice (Debolt) Zumbrun.

Janice, "Janie" as she was known, spent all of her life in Whitley County. Growing up she was adventurous and full of energy. She could run faster than all of the boys and was an accomplished tree climber. In many aspects Janie was a true tom boy. One of three Zumbrun children, she attended local schools and graduated from Columbia City Joint High School with the class of 1967. After graduation, Janie continued living in the area and, at age 19, she began to work for Dana Weatherhead. This was only the beginning of a career which would span some 30 years of her life.

She would eventually meet Kenneth "Kenny" Kimpel of Dekalb County while visiting Auburn. It was he who won her heart and, though their relationship began well before, on September 2, 1989 they were married at the home of their minister. Kenny and Janie shared more than 25 years as a married couple; living, loving, and laughing. Janie was known for her sense of humor, her wit, and her candid personality. Those that knew her best spoke of her forgone doll collection, her cookbook collection, and her warm, generous heart. She loved to cook, bake, and especially loved to share her homemade treats with those she knew. She enjoyed many T.V. shows and movies, including Dallas, Greys Anatomy, Falcon Crest, Gone With the Wind, and The Way We Were.

Janie will be missed by her surviving family which includes her Husband, Kenny of Columbia City; Son, Randy Hartman of Columbia City; Step-Daughter, Suzanne Zerkle of Wylie, TX; Step-Sons, Jeffery Kimpel of Fort Wayne and Jeremy Kimpel of Spencerville; Sister, Patricia Cochran of Columbia City; 3 granddaughters and 2 grandsons.She was preceded in death by her parents; Brother, Julius "Ray" Zumbrun; and Brother-in-law, Gaylord Cochran.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 13, 2015 from 4 to 7 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, March 14, 2015 at the funeral home; Reverend Shawn Cripe officiating. Burial will follow at South Park Annex Cemetery, Columbia City. As Janie loved all animals, the family has requested that memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society of Whitley Co.