Dean Morehouse

He was born July 16, 1935, in Milford to Samuel Guy and Lydia Florence (Rowdabaugh) Morehouse.

On Sept. 3, 1955, he married Eleanor Cobb in New Paris. She died Jan. 16, 2014.

Survivors include four children, Michael (Regina) Morehouse and Matthew (Soni) Morehouse, both of New Paris, Michelle Schmidt, Bristol, and Melanie (Ted) Mason, Blissfield, Mich.; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Eldon Morehouse, Muncie, and John Morehouse, Goshen; and a special friend, Becky Hostetler.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; six brothers, Glen, Herbert, Harold, Everett, Dale and Nelson Morehouse; and three sisters, Elsie Morehouse, Lucille Evans and Louise Meek.

A 1953 graduate of Milford High School, Dean was the fourth generation to farm more than 1,600 acres in Jackson Township along U.S. 6. A member of First Brethren Church, New Paris, Morehouse was a very active member of his community, receiving the Uncle Elmer Award in 2008. He was involved with the New Paris Lions Club for more than 50 years, receiving their highest award – the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. He was a township firefighter for more than 20 years and served on the Jackson Township Advisory Board and as a Federal Land Bank director and as a member of the ASCS board. In 1976, the Ag Society named the family as Farm Family of the Year.

Morehouse was also very involved with the Elkhart County 4-H Fair. He was on the fair board for more than 31 years, serving as president in 1995 and as 4-H fair parade grand marshal in 2017. In 1989, the Morehouse family was selected as a 4-H Family of the Year, and in 2005, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Indiana Association of Fairs Festivals and Events. In 2013, the Morehouse family was given the Hoosier Homestead Award, honoring their Indiana family farm for 150 years of operation.

A private family service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home. The service will be live-streamed and the link will be available at yoderculpfuneralhome.com. Burial will follow at the New Paris Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, Jan. 13, in drive-through fashion, from 2-5 p.m. at the Morehouse farm, 19195 U.S. 6, New Paris.

In lieu of flowers, please consider giving a memorial gift to First Brethren Church, New Paris, the New Paris Lions Club or the Elkhart County 4-H Corp. Gifts may be mailed to Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, 1911 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526.