David B. Lortie
David B. Lortie, 74, of Cleveland Township, Whitley County, died at 5:07 a.m. Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, at Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home, Fort Wayne, where he was admitted on Wednesday.
He was born July 25, 1943, in Allen County, a son of John B. and Celeste C. (Coonrod) Lortie. He graduated from Monroeville High School.
On June 19, 1965, he was united in marriage to Judith K. Brames. They made their first home in New Haven and later Fort Wayne before moving to their farm in Cleveland Township in 1973.
Employed 31 years at Dana Corp., Fort Wayne, retiring in 1995, he then worked for Whitley Mobile Homes until 2016.
He was a member of St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church and South Whitley Lions Club for 40 years.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Judy; eight children, Wendy Lortie, Angola, David J. Lortie, Columbia City, John (Michele) Lortie, Columbia City, Shawn (Bryan) Freeze, Lagrange, Kevin (Brianne) Lortie, Columbia City, Ben (Andrea) Lortie, South Whitley, Chris (Angela) Lortie, Columbia City, and Heath (Stephani) Lortie, Columbia City; 24 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Thomas Lortie, Woodburn, and Patrick Lortie, Antwerp, Ohio; and two sisters, Linda Lee, South Whitley, and Janine Foelinger, Fort Wayne.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, John Francis Lortie; and a sister, Victoria Kumfer.
The funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, 315 S. Line St., Columbia City, with visitation from 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at the church. The burial will be in the Catholic Cemetery. The visitation will also be from 2-4 p.m. and 6 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at Smith and Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City, with the prayer service at the conclusion.
Preferred memorials are to Cystic Fibrosis Association, American Heart Association or American Kidney Fund.