By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – Kent Adams, a public servant for more than 50 years, died Sunday morning, Dec. 19, after a brief illness. He was 85.

Adams, whose range of jobs began decades ago as a township trustee near Bremen and later, a state lawmaker, was in his third term as clerk-treasurer of Winona Lake.

Adams fell ill earlier this month. He died peacefully at 5 a.m. Sunday at a Mishawaka hospital, according to his family.

His passing comes just four months after the town of Winona Lake lost one of its town council members, Jim Zachary, who was 39.

“We’ve seen a lot of tragedy here in town with our town council member and now Kent passing,” said Town Hall Manager Craig Allebach. “I think everybody’s just in shock and in the grieving process.”

On Monday, Dec. 20, days before Christmas, Winona Lake’s town hall was especially somber as family members – three of his five children – collected personal belongings and memories from his office.

Numerous people stopped by to offer condolences and memories.

“So many people have told us their stories and their conversations about how much he meant to them. We knew it, but it’s nice and helpful to hear it too,” said Mark Adams, who was joined by his brother, Kent II, and sister, Leah Ann.

“It’s quite a legacy,” Mark added.

Kent Adams II said his father had two families – “our own family and the community.”

Adams excelled in athletics as a youth and loved attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, family and friends said.

The elder Kent Adams was born in Warsaw but spent decades in Bremen before moving to Winona Lake.

He and his wife, Nancy, who passed in January, of this year, leave behind five children.

“I think Nancy’s passing last January really affected him too because they were so close and did everything together,” Allebach said.

Allebach, who worked alongside Adams for ten years, called him a “great public servant” for the state of Indiana and Winona Lake

“We were really blessed to have him come back here,” Allebach said.

Allebach said Adams had a knack for connecting with people, often with a simple first question – where did you go to school?

“And believe it or not, there was always some kind of connection that he knew that person’s parents or he knew their grandparents,” Allebach said. “It was just amazing the people he knew. And he was sharp – sharp til the end.”

Adams was a trooper for the Indiana State Police and was an agent for the FBI and then moved into a lengthy career as an educator. He was employed with Bremen Public Schools, Goshen Community Schools, Concord Community Schools and Warsaw Community Schools in roles ranging from coach to principal to assistant superintendent.

His evolution as a public servant started in the German Township office in Marshall County. He served as Kosciusko County Treasurer. Adams also served as a member of the Indiana General Assembly for 16 years, including 12 years as a state senator.

He was active in the Republican Party, proud to be pro-life and admired Govs. Otis Bowen and Frank O’Bannon because, in part, they were both down to earth, he told InkFreeNews recently.

Former State Rep. Dave Wolkins and Adams both began lengthy legislative careers in the General Assembly in 1988 and the two worked together for 16 years, representing much of Kosciusko County together.

Wolkins said he was impressed with how Adams quickly hit his stride in the legislature.

“He was a very close friend,” Wolkins said. “We worked on a lot of different things before, during and after” Adams’ legislative tenure.

“He was the most organized, competent individual I’ve ever been around. At the end of the day in Indianapolis, he wouldn’t leave his office until the desk was cleared and phone calls returned,” Wolkins said.

The retired state senator was still far from retired. Adams was in the middle of his third term as clerk-treasurer and was still eyeing the future, according to a family member who said he had been discussing a run for Kosciusko County Council next year.

They said he was always looking for a challenge in ways that would help people.

“He did everything full-go and immersed himself in everything,” said his son, Kent.

Redpath Fruth Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Services are scheduled for Sunday.