JOHN J. DEAR

John "Junior" Dear, age 81, of Columbia City, IN passed away at 8:32 a.m. Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at Parkview Whitley Hospital, Columbia City. Born in Kenton, OH on January 7, 1927, he was the son of Benjamin Franklin and Jennifer Florence (Mahan) Dear. He attended school in Columbia City and later in life took night classes studying business at IUPU, Fort Wayne. He entered the United States Army and served during WW II. He married Shirley Brockup on January 13, 1953 in Etna Green, IN. Mr. Dear spent his entire lifetime in Whitley County, after his family moved here when he was a small child. He was first employed with Warsaw Chemical Company, Warsaw, IN and then worked for T & G Excavating and lastly, he retired from Simmons Excavating, Columbia City in the late 1980's. He was an avid race car fan and raced stock cars. He also loved to fish, hunt rabbits and raccoons. Survivors include his wife, Shirley Dear of Columbia City; 2 sons, Kevin L. Dear of Columbia City and Brian J. Dear, Angola, IN; 3 daughters, Juni K. (Brad) Krontz of Albion, IN; Connie S. (Ed) Sims of South Whitley, IN and Lisa A.(Steve) Burton of Columbia City, IN; 8 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; 1 brother, Frank (Betty) Dear, Columbia City, IN and 2 sisters, Dorothy Hauptmeyer, Fort Wayne, IN and Margaret Mumma, Auburn, IN. He was preceded in death by his parents, 1 son, Gary A. Dear and 4 sisters, Doris Britton, Evelyn Groves, Lenora Walker and Lois Osgood.Visitation is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Friday, April 25, 2008 and after 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City, IN. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m.on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at the funeral home with Pastor Jason Tash of New Hope Wesleyan Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Covington Memorial Gardens, Fort Wayne, IN where graveside military rites will be conducted by the Whitley County Korean War Veterans of Whitley County. Memorials may be given to the Dear Memorial Fund. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. To send family condolences or sign the guest register book, please visit www.demoneygrimes.com.Click here to view video tribute**Video may take up to 2 minutes to load.