Losing someone in a place like Fort Wayne isn't just a private family matter; it’s a ripple through the whole community. Honestly, when you look at Fort Wayne obituaries for today, you aren't just seeing a list of names. You're seeing the end of eras for local businesses, the loss of retired Parkview nurses, and the passing of neighbors who spent thirty years tending to their lawns in neighborhoods like '05 or '07.
Life moves fast. We get it. But there’s something grounding about stopping for a second to acknowledge the people who built this city. Today, January 15, 2026, the list of those we’ve lost includes educators, veterans, and lifelong residents who remember when the downtown skyline looked a whole lot different.
Who We Are Remembering Today in Fort Wayne
The notices published today reflect a wide cross-section of the Summit City. For instance, Joseph William Beauchot, 89, of Monroeville, passed away recently, leaving behind a legacy that stretched back to his birth in 1936. Then there’s Robert E. Geary, who spent over three decades as a respiratory therapist at Parkview. If you’ve spent any time in the local healthcare system over the last 30 years, there’s a good chance he—or someone he trained—helped your family.
We also see Ada Christine Little Martin, who reached the incredible milestone of 100 years. She passed away at Golden Years Homestead, a place many local families know well. Think about that: a century of life. She lived through the Great Depression, the entirety of World War II, and the rise of the digital age, all while calling this corner of Indiana home.
Recent Passing Notices and Services
- Betty A. Blume, 84, passed away on January 14. Her family is currently working with Zwick & Jahn in Decatur for arrangements.
- Mary Ellen Neher, 71, of Columbia City, passed away at Park Place in Fort Wayne. Her services are being handled by DeMoney-Grimes.
- Gerard H. "Jerry" Cornelissen Jr., 92, a veteran who was born in Detroit but had deep ties to the area, passed on January 10.
It’s a heavy list. But for many, checking these names is the only way to ensure a "hey, I remember them" doesn't turn into a missed opportunity to support a grieving friend.
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Navigating Fort Wayne Obituaries for Today and Beyond
If you're looking for specific details or trying to find a service time, you basically have three main routes in Fort Wayne. The Journal Gazette remains the primary print source, though most people just hop onto Legacy.com these days. It’s convenient, sure, but it can be a bit overwhelming with the sheer volume of data.
Then you have the individual funeral home websites. In Fort Wayne, the "big names" like D.O. McComb & Sons, Divine Mercy, and FairHaven usually post their own tributes long before they hit the newspaper. If you know a family has a preference for a specific home, check their site directly. It’s often more personal. You'll find stories there that don't make the paid newspaper inch-count, like a grandfather's obsession with the TinCaps or a grandmother's legendary sugar cookie recipe.
Why the Digital Shift Changed Everything
Digital obituaries have changed the vibe. It used to be a static paragraph in the Sunday paper. Now? It’s a living wall. You can light a "virtual candle" or upload photos of that fishing trip from 1994.
But there’s a downside. Information can get fragmented. One cousin posts on Facebook, the funeral home has a different service time listed, and the Journal Gazette hasn't updated yet. Kinda messy, right? That’s why it’s always best to verify the service location directly through the funeral home’s official page.
Finding Meaning in the "Dash"
There’s this old poem about the "dash" on a tombstone—the little line between the birth year and the death year. In Fort Wayne obituaries for today, that dash represents decades of work at places like International Harvester or GE. It represents thousands of miles driven on I-69 and countless Saturday mornings spent at the Fort Wayne Farmers Market.
Take Robert E. Geary again. His notice mentions a love for photography and covered bridges. That’s a whole life right there. It’s not just a career; it’s the quiet hobbies that made him who he was. When we read these, we aren't just looking at the end; we’re looking at what they valued.
Actionable Steps for Supporting Grieving Families
If you see a name you recognize in today’s notices, don't just scroll past. Fort Wayne is a "small big city"—reputations and relationships matter here.
- Verify the Service Details: Check the official funeral home site (like Divine Mercy or Harper’s) for the most current visitation hours. Construction on Lima Road or Coliseum can always mess with travel times, so plan ahead.
- Consider Local Memorials: Instead of generic flowers, see if the family requested donations to local spots like the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo or Community Harvest Food Bank. It keeps their legacy tied to the city they loved.
- Write a Specific Memory: If you’re posting on a digital tribute wall, skip the "sorry for your loss" and tell a story. Tell them about the time their dad helped you fix a flat tire or how their mom always had the best garden on the block. Those stories are gold to a grieving family.
Checking the daily obituaries isn't about being morbid. It’s about staying connected. It’s about making sure that as Fort Wayne grows and changes, we don't forget the people who were here before the new downtown developments and the highway expansions.
To keep up with the latest updates, you can bookmark the local newspaper's obituary section or sign up for alerts from Legacy. This ensures you never miss the chance to pay your respects to those who helped shape the community we live in today.