Edson Leroy Finkenbiner

Edson Leroy Finkenbiner Edson Leroy Finkenbiner, 91, Warsaw, died unexpectedly May 13, 2016, in Tucson, Ariz. He was born Oct. 16, 1924, in Wabash, to Bertha Mae Bowman and Arthur Clinton Finkenbiner. On Sept. 11, 1948, in Hammond, he married Valencia Veronica Kissinger, who survives in Warsaw. He was the youngest of seven children. He graduated from Linlawn High School of Wabash in 1942. He served his country in the United States Army as a Tech 5 in the Detached Engineers Section during World War II. He was in the European Theatre for three years. Also, he was awarded five bronze stars, Good Conduct Medal and a Victory Medal. He was a life member of VFW Post 1126 and a member of the American Legion Post 49, both of Warsaw. After returning home from the war, he moved to Warsaw (the town he loved and never left) from Wabash and worked for his sister’s business, the Double-Dip. After briefly studying business at Defiance College, he went on to become a salesman for the West Bend Company. He later became a distributor for West Bend and founded the Kitchen Craft Warsaw Company, which he owned for 50 years. He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Warsaw, where he served as an usher for a number of years. He was one of the founding members of the Rozella Ford Golf Course in 1959. He and his wife, Valencia, were avid golfers, and also were members of Stonehenge Golf Club and Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. He went on to win a number of club championships at all three clubs. He was a very generous and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He has left his family with many cherished and valuable memories. Also surviving are three children: Victoria (and spouse Roger) Sellers, Silver Lake; Nicolette (and spouse Kenneth) Chapman, Goshen; Kim (and spouse Vickie) Finkenbiner, North Webster; 12 grandchildren: Michelle DeLaCruz, Chad Sellers, Caleb Chapman, Elissa Goldner, Rinnah Chapman, Amanda Neely, Silas Chapman, Reah Neely, Anna Chapman, Jesse Chapman, Kacy McClelland, Kelsy Finkenbiner; 21 great-grandchildren: Dakotah Shepherd; Isaac and Brooklynn Sellers; Kayla, Karli, Kristin, Darren and Kaitlyn Chapman; John Goldner; Liza, Tyler, Trevor, Travis, Christina, Brett and Riley Neely; Allison Chapman; Myra, Cole and Denae Neely; and Kamron Richardson. He was preceded in death by his parents, six siblings and a great-grandson. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Warsaw, with the Rev. Michael Mueller officiating. A graveside service will be at Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw, with military rites conducted by American Legion Post 49 and VFW 1126, both of Warsaw, and active members of the Indiana Army Reserve National Guard Honor Guard. Calling is from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, Warsaw. ***** Memorials to the American Cancer Society, 601 West Edison Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545; American Legion Post 49, 301 N. Buffalo St., Warsaw, IN 46580; Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1720 E. Center St., Warsaw, IN 46580; or to Kosciusko County Community Foundation, 102 E. Market St., Warsaw, IN 46580 or online at www.kcfoundation.org/donate. Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com