Mr. John W. VanWagner

John W. VanWagner, 83 of Poneto passed away at 6:25 p.m. Friday, September 19, 2014 at Bluffton Regional Medical Center. John was born on December 8, 1930 in Fort Wayne to Glen M. & Willadean (Shumaker) VanWagner. He graduated from South Side High School in Fort Wayne in 1968 and attended I.U.P.U. – Fort Wayne where he completed his Associates Degree. He served in the United States Marine Corp. during the Korean Conflict and was part of the Frozen Chosin, and was discharged as a Corporal in 1952. He worked for G.T.E. as a Switch Service Technician for 43 years, retiring in 1995. He was member of Fort Wayne West Main Nazarene Church, Portage First Church of the Nazarene, Fort Wayne Lake Avenue Nazarene Church, now Fort Wayne Grace Point Nazarene Church, and was currently a member of the Bluffton First Church of the Nazarene, where he served on several boards along with Work and Witness, and Men’s for Mission. He traveled to 40+ countries through mission trips and received the NEI District Distinguished award through the NMI. On August 30, 1952 in Fort Wayne he married F. Jolene (Adam) VanWagner. She preceded him in death on March 1, 1998. On January 2, 1999 in Bluffton he married Alice Ann (Stone) Norris-VanWagner, she survives in Poneto, Indiana. Survivors include children; Tamara Sue ( Larry) Whyde of Brown County, Indiana, John W. JR. (Ann) VanWagner of Brown County, Indiana, Todd A. (Gail) VanWagner of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Ty Alan (Lori) VanWagner of Avon, Indiana along with Mary (Steve) Towne of Poneto, Indiana, Toni (Christopher) Davison of Lakeland, Florida, Betsy (James) Evans of Naples, Florida and Tonya (David) Norris-Wile of Tucson, Arizona. He is also survived by 23 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Phoebe Jane Fett of Fort Wayne. Funeral services to celebrate John’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday (September 24, 2014) at the Bluffton First Church of the Nazarene. Pastor Tim Miller will officiate. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 8 on Tuesday at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton and for one hour prior to the service at the church. A committal service will take place at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at Lindenwood Cemetery in Fort Wayne with military honors. Memorials may be made to NEI Nazarene Missions International through the Bluffton First Church of the Nazarene. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends can send online condolences to the family at www.thomarich.com.

Mr. John W. VanWagner

December 8, 1930 - September 19, 2014