Phyllis J. Landis

Phyllis Jeanne (Knepper) Landis, 97, Warsaw, died peacefully Feb. 23, 2023, surrounded by her children. She was born Jan. 29, 1926, in Plymouth, to Robert and Amy (Iden) Knepper of Etna Green.

Phyllis was valedictorian of her class at Etna Green High School and attended Indiana University where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. After college, she worked at the Etna Bank, her family’s long-time business. On June 26, 1949, she was united in marriage to Joe Keaton Landis of Warsaw. They were married 53 years until Keaton’s death in 2002. Phyllis was a homemaker and ran every aspect of the household while Keaton traveled extensively for work.

She was a member of Tippecanoe Lake Country Club where she enjoyed golf, bridge and tennis.  She was an avid tennis player and competed on Warsaw’s first traveling tennis team. Another favorite activity of hers was traveling to Northern Michigan with friends to go mushroom hunting. She was a member of First United Presbyterian Church and Delta Theta Tau, a philanthropic sorority in Warsaw. She and Keaton loved to travel and were able to do so even more frequently after Keaton’s retirement in 1981. They spent extensive time in Southwest Florida, Scottsdale, Pebble Beach, Grand Teton National Park, Hilton Head Island and Jamaica. Phyllis was patient, kind, generous and always put everyone else’s needs before her own, especially those of her family. She battled a long illness with quiet dignity and never once complained, which was how she lived her life.

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to her wonderful caregivers, Brenda, Juanita, Dawn and Melanie.

She is survived by her children, Vern (Sara) Landis, Dee (Gary) Loftin, Joe (Margaret) Landis and Laura (Tony) Tatooles; brother, Robert Knepper; grandchildren, Amy (Dion) Osborn, John (Amanda) Landis, Emily (Jeremy) Schemanske, Nick (Molly) Landis, Laura Landis, Connor (Candice) Tatooles, Keaton Tatooles and Annie Tatooles; great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Allison, Joe, Olivia, Noah, Emerson, Keaton, Harrison, Charlotte and Hannah. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Mary Lee.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 2, at Titus Funeral Home, 2000 Sheridan St., Warsaw. Visitation will be prior to the service from 10-11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Salvation Army of Warsaw, 501 E. Arthur St., Warsaw, IN 46580, centralusa.salvationarmy.org/warsaw or Center for Hospice Care, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545, cfhcare.org  If this world were full of people like Phyllis, there would be heaven on earth.