Every mayor has their own style of leading their city, and Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer has his.
“I would say that his style is just that he’s just really relaxed, but yet he knows his stuff. He serves with passion, he loves his community and he’s really a mentor for all the mayors I know. He does an outstanding job. The thing I love about him most is just he’s very approachable,” said Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood, who first met Thallemer 10-11 years ago at a mayor’s roundtable.
Wood was one of a number of guests who attended Thallemer’s retirement reception Wednesday at the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion. Thallemer did not seek re-election this year, and Councilman Jeff Grose ran and won the seat unopposed. Thallemer’s last day is Dec. 31.
Thallemer said he thinks having his reception at the pavilion was perhaps the most fitting place to have it.
“It’s a beautiful day and it’s wide open. I did a lot of my State of the Citys in here, and it’s just kind of the heartbeat of the community. And now it’s all ready to go. We’ve got a nice place for the next administration,” he said.
He found it tough to point out one particular accomplishment during his 12 years as mayor that stood out above the rest.
“It’s tough because there’s been so many balls in the air. So much going on. I think the Tech Park would have to be one. Just the work on U.S. 30. The downtown. I’ve already given you three, I really can’t point to just one. There’s been just so much going on,” Thallemer said.
Throughout the day, everyone pointed out how much Thallemer cares about people and about the community.

“That’s how I came in and that made my job easier. I feel like, if you put the people first, then you’re going to serve them and do what they want done. So, that’s just the way I was brought up. That’s just the way I am I suppose, but it really was the foundation of my work, my job - doing it for the right reason, doing it for the community,” Thallemer said.
Warsaw Police Department Chief Scott Whitaker said he has known Thallemer since he became a councilman, but really got to know him when he became mayor 12 years ago.
“It’s been a pleasure. It’s been an honor to serve under him. He’s a proven leader and it’s been great to watch him develop not only as a leader of the city, but also among the department heads and just what he has been able to achieve in his 12 years is impressive to say the least, but he’s been a joy to work for. He’s a true professional, but he’s loving, caring. He’s a great human being,” Whitaker stated.
Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert said Thallemer was mayor when he came back to WCS to be superintendent.
“On an overall level, I’ve known Joe for a long time; but on the professional level, really the last 10 years that he’s been mayor and I’ve been superintendent have been just an absolute pleasure to work side by side with him in our community,” Hoffert said.
He said Warsaw schools would not be as nearly as successful as they are without Thallemer and his support.

    Mitch Reinholt signs a piece of the puzzle at Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer’s retirement reception at Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, TIMES-UNION
  

“He’s been an advocate for our schools, for our community, for our kids. I look at just some of the pictures here as we’re standing here at his retirement party and so many of them are with kids. That’s Joe’s heart. He knows what the next generation and how much it’s going to impact our community. And so whether it’s a robotics competition, whether it’s reading to our elementary schools, whether it’s doing even promotional videos for our local school system, Joe’s been involved in all of those, working side by side with us,” Hoffert said.
He said it was a pleasure not only to call Thallemer a colleague, but also a friend.
State Sen. Andy Zay, who is running for U.S. Congress 3rd District, has known Thallemer for about six years. They met socially through some mutual friends, but they’ve also worked politically together and on the U.S. 30 project.
“Joe’s been a hard worker for the city of Warsaw. He’s always advocated for the community. I’ve worked with Rep. Craig Snow to bring that $30 million here for the OrthoWorx project and commitment,” Zay said. “When you think about Warsaw, you think about two things: You think about orthopedics and you think about Joe Thallemer and they’re inseparable because he knew and knows what the orthopedic industry needs from Warsaw.
“Warsaw is reinventing itself. The orthopedic industry has been the capital of the world, it’s been here a long time. So now it’s time to kind of reinvent that and determine what the next generation of orthopedics is going to look like, and Joe’s been the poster boy for that and has worked hard for that for the community,” Zay said.
Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Ragan said Thallemer has a vision for Warsaw and came into city politics with that vision.
“I appreciate that a lot. You can definitely tell that Joe has been here and left his footprint and he loves Warsaw and is very obvious ... and I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of him,” Ragan said.
Pam Kennedy, Warsaw Housing Authority, said, “He’s been very supportive, and I think he’s the only one that works for the city still from when I started.” Not only has he been very supportive, she said, but “you can call him about anything and he always helps.”
Airport Manager Nick King was hired by Thallemer almost 11 years.
“He was the one that brought me on to the city and he’s been absolutely phenomenal to work with,” King said. “He has seen where we need the improvements and has really helped with trying to find funding and given us as much support as he can, whether that’s through the state, federally, locally. He has really brought a lot of that knowledge on how to weave those political waters, specifically with federal agencies - getting our congressman and U.S. senators involved in different projects to make sure that we can compete very, very well.”
King said he’ll miss Thallemer a lot.
City Planner Justin Taylor has been with the city coming on eight years, serving as city planner since 2021.
He said working with Thallemer has been fantastic. “You couldn’t ask for a better leader. He’s really passionate, really cares about the people of the city and the city, so it’s been really great to see him in action over the last eight years or so. I’ve learned so much it’s hard to put into words.”
Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation CEO Alan Tio said, “Nobody is more committed, more compassionate and believes in this community than Mayor Joe. He has put in so much of his time, his energy toward being mayor, serving the city.”
He said Thallemer has gone “above and beyond” serving as mayor.
County Commissioner Brad Jackson said the county’s relationship with the city under Thallemer’s leadership has been “excellent.”
“We work very well together and that’s huge because with (Warsaw) being the county seat, it’s important, with every community (it’s important) but especially Warsaw and that’s definitely been the case,” Jackson said.
Lakesha Green, Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts executive director, said Thallemer has been “absolutely” supportive of the Wagon Wheel.
“From the time I came in, he wanted to know what my vision was, was I going to be here, what do I need, what does the Wagon Wheel need, and that’s so important,” she said. “He’s been involved in all of our strategic processes of growing it, sustaining it and looking toward the future, even when he’s not going to be here. So that’s a beautiful thing that I love about him, is that he cares about people, he cares about the quality of life of the city, which is so important.”
Sheriff Jim Smith estimated he’s known Thallemer for about 15 years. He said the mayor’s strongest attribute is his passion for the community, his work and his vision for the community.
“Warsaw has been very lucky to have him,” he said.
Mitch Reinholt played football with Thallemer’s son, then joined Thallemer’s ophthalmology practice before buying it from him.
“I’ve known him in several capacities, but I would say the biggest one for me has been a mentor. He’s really guided me as I came back to the community as a professional, now a business owner and leader of a practice. Just how to take care of people, do the right thing, make people feel cared about. I just appreciate his guidance,” Reinholt stated.
Whitney Olson has worked in the mayor’s office going on her sixth year. “It’s been good. He’s a good boss. He’s not like a normal boss - he cares,” she said.
Staci Young started in the mayor’s office in 2014. “He kind of evolved the role for me and changed it from a secretarial role to helping with project management and communications and things as the roles of the office have evolved. Our office has grown a lot in the last 10 years,” she said.
Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Chief Brian Mayo has been with the city for almost a year.
“It’s been really good. He has known that the transition has been coming in one form or another since early in the year, so when I got hired on, we’ve already been in the planning stages ever since I got hired on, so it’s been really refreshing to know he’s prepping for me for the new one, he’s prepping to go out and going to retire, so all of those discussions have centered around where we’re at today and where we’re going to be at next year with the new mayor,” Mayo said.
He said he thinks the transition between mayors will be really good, not seamless, but really good. Thallemer has been really supportive of the fire department, Mayo said.
Warsaw Human Resource Director Denny Harlan said that while he’s only been with the city and with Thallemer a short time, “He’s really taught me a lot and how to deal with difficult situations. I’ve seen him take criticism with a smile on his face, and that’s hard to do for anybody.”
Stephanie Overbey, Kosciusko County Community Foundation CEO, first knew Thallemer as her eye doctor about 20 years ago.
“I think he’s really accessible to the public. He’s certainly been accessible to those I’ve worked with that are involved in things they want to do in the community, so he’s very accessible,” she said. “He’s been bold and innovative in the way he approaches projects and ideas. I think he’s been a great leader.”