Jack Elam
Jack Elam, 86, passed away at 10:45 a.m. Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, at Peabody Retirement Community in North Manchester. He was formerly of Grace Village Retirement Community in Winona Lake.
He was born Jan. 29, 1932, in New Castle, to John and Rosa (Cassity) Elam. On April 29, 1952, he was married to Janet L. (Hamilton) Elam, who survives.
He was a longtime resident of Kosciusko County, where he was a member of First Christian Church of Warsaw, 50 year member of the Masonic Lodge #418 F&AM in Milford, as well as a member of the Scottish Rite of Fort Wayne, and the American Legion Post #223 in Syracuse. He proudly enlisted and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict as a Supply Sergeant. He served from Dec. 12, 1951 until his honorable discharge from the Air Force Reserve on Dec. 11, 1959, as an Airman First Class. He was also a proud direct descendant of Matoaka, known in history as Pocahantas.
He retired in 1984 from Thunander Corporation in Elkhart, where he was the National Sales Manager for 15 years. He loved his family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and will be dearly missed.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 67 years, Janet L. Elam, Winona Lake; daughter: Beth Yoder, Peru; and his son: Joe (Pat) Elam, New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Also surviving are three grandchildren: Brett (Daron) Elam, Marietta, Ga.; Adam (Jennifer) Yoder, Greentown; Debbie (Brian) Pinnegar, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and three sisters.
Visitation will be held from 3-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.
His funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home and officiated by Pastor Gary Boschain. Burial will follow with a graveside service at Syracuse Cemetery of Syracuse. Full military rites will be conducted by active members of the United States Air Force and the American Legion Post 223 of Syracuse.
Memorial donations in Jack’s memory may be directed to First Christian Church, 115 Park Ridge Drive, Warsaw, IN 46580 and would be appreciated by the family.
Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s Web Site at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com