James “Jamie” Ward Leeper III, 50, Warsaw, passed away unexpectedly in Puerto Rico on Sept. 10, 2016. He was born July 26, 1966, in Warsaw, to James Ward II and Mary Jo Ottersen Leeper. On Aug. 9, 2013, he married Linda Burchett, who survives in Warsaw. He was a lifetime resident of Kosciusko County, where he was a 1985 graduate of Warsaw Community High School. He also attended Ivy Tech in Warsaw and in 1987 he began working for Zimmer Inc., Warsaw. He worked there for 29 years and at the time of his passing was a machinist. He loved college football, hunting, fishing and most of all he loved his grandchildren. He will be missed by all of the friends he has made throughout his lifetime, and loved forever by the family he leaves behind. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife and parents, as well as a son, James Leeper IV, Columbia City; a stepson, Zachary Dustin, Warsaw; a daughter, Kiira (and husband Adam) Churchill, Silver Lake; two stepdaughters, Amanda (and husband Mark) Polling, Warsaw, and Ashley (and husband Patrick) Richardson, Fort Wayne; three grandchildren: Alice, Parker and Lila; five stepgrandchildren: Cash, Wyatt, Jaylyn, Sebastian and Corbin; a sister: Jackie (and husband David) Thompson, Bellefontaine, Ohio; a nephew, D.J. Thompson; and a niece, Alexandra Thompson. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, with Pastor Hedgel Perry officiating. Burial will follow with a private family graveside service at Oakhill Cemetery in Plymouth. Calling is from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials to Warsaw Young Tiger Football, Attn: Jason Nolin, 202 Chapman Lake Drive, Warsaw, IN 46582, and would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences may be sent at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.
