Columbia City, IN. Obituaries

Aug 25, 2021

Ada Rumsey will be remembered as a sweet, kind and giving lady. She was a strong lady who also was strong willed. In her 100 years, she saw much change in the world around her. Her parents, William and Hulleta (Kistler) Gilbert moved from Northeast Indiana to Arkansas for an opportunity to farm. On October 10, 1920, they were...

Aug 23, 2021

Helen Frances Groves, age 97, of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 3:20 am on Monday August 23, 2021, at Miller’s Merry Manor at Oak Pointe, Columbia City.  Born on October 27, 1923, in Churubusco, she was the daughter of James and Goldie (Maggart) Lock.

Helen attended Churubusco High School and graduated with the Class of 1940. ...

Aug 17, 2021

Marilyn K. Reaser, 72, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at Parkview Regional Medical Center. Born September 6, 1948 in Fort Wayne, she was the daughter of  Samuel and Hilda (Kiger) Warren.

Growing up in Fort Wayne, Marilyn graduated from Northside High School with the Class of 1966. On July 11, 1969, she...

Aug 12, 2021

Uva L. Lesley, 87, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Thursday, August 12, 2021 at Parkview Regional Medical Center. Born December 15, 1933 in Peru, she was the daughter of Frederick and Zora (Marquis) Richardson.

Growing up in Peru, she attended Victory Elementary School and graduated from Peru High School with the Class of 1952....

Aug 12, 2021

John Carl Workman, 21, of Columbia City and formerly of Fort Wayne, passed away Thursday, August 12, 2021 from injuries sustained in an auto accident. Born September 27, 1999 at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, he was the son of Jon and Carrie (Vaught) Workman. Growing up in Fort Wayne, Johnny was a member of Abundant Life Church. He...

Aug 9, 2021

Wendy Anne Thomas, 54, of Columbia City, passed away Monday, August 9, 2021, at home in Whitley County. Wendy was born June 25, 1967 and was the daughter of Robert "Bob" and Sandra "Sandy" Thomas.

She graduated from Columbia City Joint High School with the Class of 1985. She was employed at Per Mar Security for SDI...

Aug 9, 2021

Brian J. Dear, 55, of Kendallville, Indiana, and formerly of Columbia City, passed away unexpectedly Monday, August 9, 2021 at Parkview Noble Hospital. Born January 5, 1966 in Whitley County, he was the son of John J. and Shirley A. (Brockup) Dear.

He attended Columbia City Joint High School and Phoenix University. Over the years Brian worked...

Aug 8, 2021

Helen A. Morford, age 91, of North Manchester, IN, and formerly of Columbia City, passed away at 2:00 am on Sunday August 8, 2021, at Peabody Retirement Community, North Manchester.  Born on June 18, 1930, in Whitley County, she was the daughter of James Sr. and Mildred (Smith) Downing.

Helen attended Thorncreek Township Schools and was a...

Aug 6, 2021

Susie Elizabeth Duncan Sexton, 75, of Columbia City, IN, passed away unexpectedly Friday, August 6, 2021, at her home. Born on May 14, 1946, in Fort Wayne, she was the daughter of Roy and Edna (Lewis) Duncan, who, in her words, were “neither phony nor stereotypical … my parents disagreed often, attended church regularly for networking and spiritual rejuvenation...

Aug 2, 2021

James "Jim" Helfrich, 74, of Columbia City, passed away peacefully Monday morning, August 2, 2021 at his home. Born September 7, 1946 in Columbia City, he was the son of Robert and Geraldine (Dorio) Helfrich.

While attending Columbia City Joint High School, Jim enjoyed journalism and was part of the school newspaper. He went on to graduate...

Jul 31, 2021

Thomas Wayne "Tom" Mishler, age 72, passed away July 31, 2021.  Tom was born in South Whitley, Indiana to the late Kenneth & Joy Mishler. He is survived by his loving wife, Diana of 15 years, sister,

Cheryl (Steve) Baker of The Villages, Fl.; children, Jason (Melissa) Mishler of Columbia City, Indiana, Kristi (Rob) Desenberg of Warsaw,...

Jul 23, 2021

Timothy D. “Tim” Wiedman, age 75, of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 7:12 pm on Friday July 23, 2021, at his residence.  Born on June 30, 1946, in Fort Wayne, he was the son of Donald and Gretchen (Kohlmeier) Wiedman.

Tim attended Fort Wayne Schools and graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School, with the Class of...

Jul 17, 2021

Calvin D. Ritschard, age 73, of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 8:40 am on Saturday July 17, 2021, at his residence.  Born on July 11, 1948, in Monroe, WI, he was the son of Delbert and Darlyne (Boeck) Ritschard.

Calvin grew up on a farm in rural Argyle, WI, and attended local schools.  He graduated from...

Jul 17, 2021

Janis Ruth Mann, 66, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Saturday, July 17, 2021 at Miller's Merry Manor. Born at Whitley County Memorial Hospital in Columbia City on August 16, 1954, she was the daughter of the late Paul Wolfe and Betty (Jones) Wolfe.

Janis was a member of the Columbia City Joint High School Class of...

Jul 17, 2021

Rita Marie  Coverstone, 82, of Mena, Arkansas, passed away Saturday, July 17, 2021 at Arkansas Hospice Inpatient Center. Born October 22, 1938 in Berne, Indiana, she was the daughter of Leo and Linda (Burket) Velez.

She grew up in Adams County and attended local schools. On February 5, 1981, she married Ken Coverstone. Rita worked at Dekko...

Jul 16, 2021

Robert A. Sanders, 64, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Friday, July 16, 2021, at his home surrounded by loved ones. Born April 14, 1957, in Evansville, he was the son of Paul Sanders and Delores Brown.

He grew up in Mitchell, Indiana. Like most boys, he loved playing basketball, being outdoors, swimming in the stone quarry,...

Jul 14, 2021

Eugene Coverstone, 93, of Pierceton, passed away Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at Parkview Whitley Hospital. Born December 26, 1927 at home in Wolf Lake, he was the son of Earl C. and Vesta (Fry) Coverstone.

He grew up in rural Etna on his family's farm and graduated from South Whitley High School and served in the U.S....

Jul 13, 2021

Thomas Dee Cormany, 88, of Columbia City passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at 2:16 am at Parkview Whitley Hospital, Columbia City. He became suddenly ill at his home on Saturday afternoon. Tom was born on June 8, 1933, the son of Dee F. and Charlotte Gertrude (Vernette) Cormany.

He graduated from Columbia City High...

Jul 12, 2021

Easy going and out going were just a few ways to describe Rev. Lannie Maloney. He never met a stranger and could easily strike up a conversation with anyone. Lannie was also always there to lend a hand when needed.

With the United States’ Great Depression becoming a faint memory by 1950, many families were moving out...

Jul 12, 2021

Larry C. Lock, age 84, of Larwill, IN, passed away at 5:40 pm on Monday July 12, 2021, at Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home, Fort Wayne.  Born on May 22, 1937, in Wabash, IN, he was the son of Warren and Dorothy (Myers) Lock.

Larry attended Franklin Elementary and Central High School, Fort Wayne.  He graduated with...