Michael Ray Werstler, 63, Larwill, passed away at 5:40 a.m. April 16, 2014, at his residence. He was born Aug. 10, 1950, in Warsaw, to Clarence Ray and Donna Belle Brinckman Werstler. On. Dec. 30, 1984, he married Donna Jean Douglas, who survives in Larwill. He was a lifetime resident of Whitley County and a 1968 graduate of Pierceton High School. He attended college at United Electronic Institute in Grand Rapids, Mich., receiving an associate degree in electronics in 1970. On Jan. 13, 1971, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and served during the Vietnam conflict until his honorable discharge in 1973. He had worked for Dana-Weatherhead Corp. in Columbia City for 30 years until 2000. He later worked for G&R Landscaping in Larwill until 2005, when he started his job as the maintenance technician at Grace Village Retirement Community in Winona Lake, working there until his passing. He will also be lovingly remembered by his mother, Pierceton; two sons, Jeffrey (and spouse Amy) Shinneman, Elkton, Va., and Nicholas (and spouse Audrey) Werstler, Dryden, Ontario; a daughter, Kathleen (and partner Micheala) Blumberg, Greenville, Mich.; eight grandchildren: Caleb, Jonathan, David and Andrew Werstler; Annika Blumberg; Miley, Lindsay and Hallie Shinneman; two brothers, Rex (and spouse Carol) Werstler, Leesburg, and Tim (and spouse Sue) Werstler, Pierceton; and his sister, Vicki (and spouse John) Camden, Pierceton. He was preceded in death by his father. Services will be at noon Saturday at New Life Christian Church & World Outreach, 744 S. CR 325E., Warsaw, with Pastor John B. Lowe officiating. Military rites will be conducted at the church by the American Legion Post 258 of Pierceton. Calling is from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the church. Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw. ***** Memorials to Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice, P.O. Box 1196, Warsaw, IN 46581-1196 and would be appreciated by his family. Condolences may be sent via www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com
