Dale L. Haupert
Dale L. Haupert, 83, Fort Wayne and formerly of South Whitley, died at 2:14 a.m. Friday, June 17, 2016 at Lutheran Hospital where he was admitted on Friday, June 10.
He was born Feb. 6, 1933 in Wabash County, a son of Ezra and Cleo (Miller) Haupert. His formative years were spent in Wabash County. He graduated from Urbana High School. In 1969 he graduated from Purdue Life Insurance Institute and later in 1976 he received his Chartered Life Underwriter designation from the American College in Bryn Mawr, Penn.
On Aug. 2, 1963 he was united in marriage to Elaine Hartley. They made their home on a farm south of South Whitley until moving to their present home in 2015.
A farmer, he also worked in the life insurance industry for 47 years owning and operating Dale Haupert & Associates from 1967 until 2010 when he began consulting for Financial Planning Services. He was the leading agent for American United Life Insurance Company for three years and had received many company and industry awards for his work. The Fort Wayne General Agents named Dale the “Agent of the Year” five times and he was named “Hoosier Life Underwriter of the Year” in 1993 by the Indiana State Association of Life Underwriters. Mr. Haupert was a moderator for the Life Underwriter Training Council for 13 years and taught two classes in the investment field during that time. He was a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table.
He actively invested in the community and church throughout his involvement on numerous boards, volunteerism in local schools, service as a member of the United Brethren in Christ church and at the time of his death was a member of Emmanuel Community Church in Fort Wayne. Dale had been a member of Gideons International since 1964, served on the Youth for Christ board for 12 years, Whitko School Board 12 years and also led Junior Achievement classes at Whitko Middle School and Whitko High School.
For 28 years, Mr. Haupert served as trustee of Huntington University and was instrumental with launching The Haupert Institute for Agriculture Studies and in 2013 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree in Commercial Science.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Elaine; six children: Cheryl (William) Mallow, Peru: Gary Haupert, California; Vic (Janie) Bechtold, Gering, Neb.; Amy (Alex) Kulik, Indianapolis; Vincent (Liesl) Haupert, Huntington; and Jason (Tonya) Haupert, Fort Wayne; ten grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and a brother, Dean Haupert, Urbana.
He was preceded in death by an infant son, Todd L. Haupert; two sisters, Lavonne Behrmann and Bernice Davis; and two brothers, Doyle Haupert and Donald Haupert.
Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. The funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Emmanuel Community Church, 12222 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne with visitation from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the church. The burial will be in South Whitley Cemetery.
Preferred memorials are to Huntington University for Haupert Institute for Agriculture Studies, Fort Wayne Area Youth for Christ or Gideons International.