Mary Ellen Jordan
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
She was born July 23, 1951, in South Bend, to Raymond and Mary Ann Summy Gradeless. On March 20, 2000, in Warsaw, she married the Rev. James “Jim” Jordan, who survives.
She was a 1969 graduate of LaVille High School, Lakeville, where she was the class salutatorian. She attended Manchester College before earning a degree from the Ball State University Architectural School in 1974.
She lived most of her life in Warsaw. In 1997 she purchased Scearce and Associates from Don Scearce, P.E. and reincorporated the firm as Scearce Rudisel Architects Inc. Mary Ellen Rudisel-Jordan, AIA, has been providing architectural services for Warsaw and surrounding area for 16 years.
She was a member of Warsaw Community Church, where she and Jim were leaders of the “50 Somethings” ministry. She also was a leader and mentor within the church. She will be remembered for her humor, especially her Sven and Ole jokes, wisdom and friendship by many at Warsaw Community Church.
She was a past president and lieutenant governor of the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club, where she sang with the Optimist Singers. She was a member of the American Institute of Architects, Indiana; former Indiana State Secretary of the AIA Indiana; former president, NWAIA Indiana; National Historic Building Restoration Assessor; president of the Warsaw Community Development Corporation; and a member of the Warsaw Zoning Board. She and Jim established the Way Maker Trust Fund through the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. This fund allows architectural designs to be drawn up to help small churches and non-for-profits become handicap accessible. Jim shares that she was an inspiration, she brought out the best in everyone she met, her joy and exuberance were infectious and her positive attitude gave hope and energy.
Also surviving are two sons, Stephen (and spouse Alex) Rudisel, West Lafayette, and PV2 Daniel S. (and spouse Amanda) Rudisel, San Antonio, Texas; a daughter, Leanna M. (and spouse Jeff) Anderson, Dallas, Texas; four grandchildren; her mother, Mary Ann Gradeless, Warsaw; and father and stepmother, Ray and Donna Gradeless, Mishawaka; a brother, Dr. Michael (and spouse Kathy) Gradeless, Carmel; four stepsons, Joseph A. (and spouse Jeanette) Jordan, Randall L. (and spouse Jodie) Jordan and Kevin L. (and spouse Jill) Jordan, all of Columbia City, and Bradley A. (and spouse Renae) Jordan, Westfield; and 15 step- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Rebecca Rudisel.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Titus Funeral Home, Warsaw, officiated by Pastor Jeff Pfeifer of Warsaw Community Church. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw.
Calling is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
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Memorials may be made to The Way Maker Trust Fund through the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, 102 E. Market St., Warsaw, IN 46580; or at kcfoundation.org
Condolences may be sent via www.titusfuneralhome.com[[In-content Ad]]
She was born July 23, 1951, in South Bend, to Raymond and Mary Ann Summy Gradeless. On March 20, 2000, in Warsaw, she married the Rev. James “Jim” Jordan, who survives.
She was a 1969 graduate of LaVille High School, Lakeville, where she was the class salutatorian. She attended Manchester College before earning a degree from the Ball State University Architectural School in 1974.
She lived most of her life in Warsaw. In 1997 she purchased Scearce and Associates from Don Scearce, P.E. and reincorporated the firm as Scearce Rudisel Architects Inc. Mary Ellen Rudisel-Jordan, AIA, has been providing architectural services for Warsaw and surrounding area for 16 years.
She was a member of Warsaw Community Church, where she and Jim were leaders of the “50 Somethings” ministry. She also was a leader and mentor within the church. She will be remembered for her humor, especially her Sven and Ole jokes, wisdom and friendship by many at Warsaw Community Church.
She was a past president and lieutenant governor of the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club, where she sang with the Optimist Singers. She was a member of the American Institute of Architects, Indiana; former Indiana State Secretary of the AIA Indiana; former president, NWAIA Indiana; National Historic Building Restoration Assessor; president of the Warsaw Community Development Corporation; and a member of the Warsaw Zoning Board. She and Jim established the Way Maker Trust Fund through the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. This fund allows architectural designs to be drawn up to help small churches and non-for-profits become handicap accessible. Jim shares that she was an inspiration, she brought out the best in everyone she met, her joy and exuberance were infectious and her positive attitude gave hope and energy.
Also surviving are two sons, Stephen (and spouse Alex) Rudisel, West Lafayette, and PV2 Daniel S. (and spouse Amanda) Rudisel, San Antonio, Texas; a daughter, Leanna M. (and spouse Jeff) Anderson, Dallas, Texas; four grandchildren; her mother, Mary Ann Gradeless, Warsaw; and father and stepmother, Ray and Donna Gradeless, Mishawaka; a brother, Dr. Michael (and spouse Kathy) Gradeless, Carmel; four stepsons, Joseph A. (and spouse Jeanette) Jordan, Randall L. (and spouse Jodie) Jordan and Kevin L. (and spouse Jill) Jordan, all of Columbia City, and Bradley A. (and spouse Renae) Jordan, Westfield; and 15 step- grandchildren. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Rebecca Rudisel.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Titus Funeral Home, Warsaw, officiated by Pastor Jeff Pfeifer of Warsaw Community Church. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw.
Calling is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
*****
Memorials may be made to The Way Maker Trust Fund through the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, 102 E. Market St., Warsaw, IN 46580; or at kcfoundation.org
Condolences may be sent via www.titusfuneralhome.com[[In-content Ad]]
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