Columbia City, IN. Obituaries

Nov 24, 2020

Sandra Lee Leininger, 82, of Columbia City, IN passed away Tuesday night, November 24, 2020 at Mason Health in Warsaw. Born June 25, 1938 in Bucks County, PA, she was the daughter of Paul Somers and Dorothy (Heucheroth) Somers Hallman.

She grew up in LeHigh Valley, PA and graduated from Southern LeHigh High School with the Class...

Nov 24, 2020

Wilma Josephine Miller, 93, of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 1:25 a.m. Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at Miller's at Oak Pointe. Born February 22, 1927 in Columbia City, she was the daughter of John and Emma (Fiedler) Kerch.

She graduated from Coesse High School with the Class of 1944. On July 4, 1948, she married Amos...

Nov 22, 2020

Marilyn Joan Landis, age 59, of New Haven, IN, passed away at 10:00 am on Sunday November 22, 2020 at Miller’s Merry Manor, Marion.  Born on April 24, 1961 in Columbia City, IN, she was the daughter of Paul and Sharon (Smith) Creager.

Marilyn attended Columbia City Joint and Woodlan High Schools. She married Jerry Landis in...

Nov 18, 2020

Leolan "Press" Pressler, 89, of Columbia City, IN, passed away Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at Miller's at Oak Pointe. Born July 4, 1931 in Wabash, he was the son of Ray and Ruth (Bowers) Pressler.

After moving to Whitley County in 1945, he graduated from Larwill High School with the Class of  1949. Press served in the...

Nov 15, 2020

Charlene D. Relue, age 77 of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 12:15 am on Sunday November 15, 2020 at Miller’s at Oak Pointe, Columbia City.  Born on December 27, 1942 in Fort Wayne, she was the daughter of Charles and Christine (Neireiter)Laubscher.

Charlene attended South Side High School and graduated with the Class of 1961. She...

Nov 14, 2020

Dora Ellen Coulter, age 77 of Wolcottville, IN, passed away at 8:48 am on Saturday November 14, 2020 at Parkview Noble Hospital, Kendallville.  Born on June 30, 1943 in Muncie, IN, she was the daughter of James and Ada (Cox) Hillman.

Dora attended Royerton High School and graduated with the Class of 1961.  In March of 1967,...

Nov 12, 2020

Cheryl (Green) Lawson, 61, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Thursday, November 12, 2020 in the comfort of her home on Round Lake. Born May 11, 1959 at Whitley Memorial Hospital, she was the daughter of Frederick Keith and Marleen Joyce (Fulk) Green.

She graduated from Columbia City Joint High School with the Class of...

Nov 10, 2020

Larry Gene Lee, 59, of Columbia City, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday morning, November 10, 2020 at his home. Born November 16, 1960 in Warsaw, he was the son of Robert and Maxine (England) Lee.

He graduated from Columbia City Joint High School with the Class of 1979. In 1981 he moved to Dallas, Texas for two years...

Nov 9, 2020

Shy, reserved, and not wanting to stand out in a crowd are just a few ways to describe Judy Hudson.  A few pieces of history that occurred in 1944 include President Franklin Roosevelt being elected to his fourth term, Benjamin Green inventing sunscreen for soldiers, later founding the Coppertone Company, and on August 8 1944, the welcoming of Judith...

Nov 9, 2020

Mark A. Crawford, 63, of Columbia City, passed away Monday, November 9, 2020 at Canterbury Green Nursing Home. Born August 17, 1957 in Whitley County, he was the son of Gerald and Evelyn (Brandenburg) Crawford.

He graduated from Columbia City Joint High School with the Class of 1975. Mark worked for Weatherhead/ Goma for 28 years and...

Nov 6, 2020

Erica Ann (Englehart) Waybright, 35, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Friday, November 6, 2020 at her home with her family by her side. Born February 18, 1985 in Tiffin, Ohio, she was the daughter of Jeffrey and Gail (Chapman) Englehart.

Growing up in Tiffin, Erica from an early age enjoyed arts and crafts. She also enjoyed...

Nov 4, 2020

Esther Marie Rider, 93, formerly of North Webster, Indiana, passed away Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at Heritage Pointe Retirement Home in Warren where she had been living for the past several years. Born May 27, 1927 in Troy Township of Whitley County, she was the daughter of Delbert and Irene (Wright) Martin.

She graduated from Larwill High...

Nov 3, 2020

Bill Watkins had a witty sense of humor with an ornery side. He cherished time spent with the love of his life, Sandy and enjoyed any time spent outdoors and relaxing while hunting.

Born William Watkins on December 17, 1949 in Frankfort, Kentucky, he was the son of Sammy and Chelcie Watkins. Bill was born...

Oct 29, 2020

Larry R. Jones, age 85, of Columbia City, IN, passed away at 12:35 pm on Thursday October 29, 2020 at Ascension Sacred Heart, Avilla.  Born on December 19, 1934 in Whitley County, he was the son of Hershel and Clarabelle (Reider) Jones.

Larry graduated from Columbia City High School and proudly served his country in the U.S....

Oct 28, 2020

Kenneth J. Rock, age 93, of Columbia City,IN, passed away at 2:34 am on Wednesday October 28, 2020 at his residence.  Born on July 18, 1927 in Fort Wayne he was the son of David Peter and Helen Teresa (Wolf) Rock.

Kenneth attended local schools and graduated from Coesse High School with the Class of 1945.  He...

Oct 28, 2020

Grateful for the little things, friendly, loving, caring, and generous with her time are just a few ways to describe Linda Plattner.  A few events that occurred in history in 1951 include the U.S. designed the Breeder Reactor which converted Uranium to Plutonium, the first commercial computer, UNIVAC, is put into use at the U.S. Census Bureau, Dennis the...

Oct 24, 2020

William Dale Heinbaugh, 91, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Saturday, October 24, 2020 at Miller's Merry Manor. Born June 10, 1929 in Painesville, Ohio, he was the son of Dale Tower and Esther Carolyn (Stroll) Heinbaugh.

Bill grew up in in Russiaville, Indiana and moved to Warren where he graduated from Salamonie Township High School. He...

Oct 23, 2020

Larry Lee McKown, 85, of Columbia City, passed away Friday, October 23, 2020 at his home. Born July 25, 1935 in Fort Wayne, he was the son of Ralph McKown and Itha (Fruchey) McKown and brother of Jack and Richard McKown.

Larry graduated from Wolf Lake High School in 1953. From 1953-1954, he worked at Wirk Garment...

Oct 22, 2020

Nancy Jane Yant, 80, of Columbia City, passed away Thursday, October 22, 2020 at Parkview Regional Medical Center. Born October 19, 1940 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of Harold Davis and Kathryn (Barnes) Davis-Wills.

She graduated from Riverside High School in Milwaukee with the Class of 1956. In 1974, Nancy moved to Whitley County, Indiana....

Oct 17, 2020

Brenda Gail Duty, age 69 of Pierceton, IN, passed away at 12:12 pm on Saturday October 17, 2020 at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne.  Born on October 1, 1951 in Detroit, MI, she was the daughter of Roy and Mildred (Bush) Collier.

Brenda attended Larwill High School and graduated with the Class of 1969.  On February...