John T. “Tom” Easter, 82, of Winona Lake, passed away at 1:49 a.m. Nov. 8, 2011, in Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw.
He was born Feb. 13, 1929, in Peru, to Charles and Jane Knott Easter. On May 4, 1952, in Rutherford, N.J., he married Barbara Powell, who survives.
He was a Kosciusko County residence since 1978 and formerly lived in Fort Wayne. He owned Eagle Enterprises and was a heating and cooling sales engineer, retiring in 2008 after 50 years. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and was an avid fisherman. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, serving during the Korean War from 1949-52 as a second lieutenant. He was a lifetime member of the American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers and a member of First Christian Church, Warsaw, where he formerly served as a deacon. He was affiliated with Eagle Scouts-Boy Scouts of America. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University in 1951, and attended Purdue University.
Also surviving are two sons, Charles (and spouse Tamra) Easter, Fort Wayne, and Michael Henry (and spouse Melanie) Easter, Warsaw; a daughter, Jo Elizabeth (and spouse Fred) Helfrich, Warsaw; a brother, Ben Easter, Columbia City; and grandchildren: Adam Helfrich, Aurora, Ill.; Elizabeth (and spouse Neil) Kjeldsen, Indianapolis; Hanna and Emma Easter, both of Fort Wayne; and Patrick and Samuel Easter, both of Warsaw.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Christian Church, Warsaw, with Pastor Gary Boschain officiating. Burial will be private.
Calling is one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.
McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, 2290 Provident Court, Warsaw, is in charge of arrangements.
***** Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church building fund, 115 Park Ridge Drive, Warsaw, IN 46580 or The Salvation Army, 501 Arthur St., Warsaw, IN 46580.
Condolences may be sent via mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com
