John M. Arter

John M. Arter

Life Story

Although he accomplished so many things throughout his rich and rewarding life’s journey, there was nothing that was more near and dear to the heart of John Arter than providing for and caring for his beloved family. He was a hardworking man who fully devoted himself to whatever task was at hand with honor and integrity that is to be admired. It was easy to see that John was married to the love of his life, and together they experienced so many of the best things that life has to offer. He was content in whatever life brought as his life’s motto was, “Every day is a good day, some are just better than others.” Resourceful, fun-loving, and kindhearted, John was an extraordinary man to know and love.

As the 1950s dawned in America there was much to celebrate. With the end of WWII in 1945, families were reunited and the baby boom was underway while Rosa Parks ignited the fire that brought civil rights to the forefront when she refused to give up her seat on an Alabama bus. It was during this eventful time that a young couple from Zanesville, Ohio, was delighted with the birth of a healthy baby boy on September 7, 1950. John M. was one of three children born to his parents, John A. and Helen A. (Rondonsky) Arter, and he was raised in the family home alongside his brothers, Jim and Dave.

Known for getting into his fair share of mischief, John was a bustle of activity from the time he was a young boy. He often snuck away from his home by throwing his gym bag over his shoulder and telling his mother that he going to play basketball with friends, when in reality he was spending the evening doing something he loved, boxing. John loved hunting and collecting garter snakes until he had a bucket full of snakes, which he then sold to his friends in the neighborhood. Not surprisingly, his friends’ mothers soon marched over to the Arter home just a bit upset with John. His friends and loved ones also knew that he was forever pulling practical jokes and playing tricks. He was a student at local schools who graduated from New Haven High School in 1968.

With a thirst for learning new things, John continued his education. He earned an associate’s degree from Ivy Tech in HVAC certification. In addition, John achieved numerous other certifications over his lifetime as he took classes as recently as three years ago.

It was also as a young man that John served his country in the United States Navy, beginning in 1969 and continuing through much of 1975. His zest for life and fun-loving personality made him quite well known among his fellow seamen. John loved tormenting new sailors, often assigning inductees who came to work with him in the boiler room the job of taking an empty can to the opposite side of the ship to collect a full can of steam. Of course when they returned with an empty can he sent them off to repeat the mission - often more than one time until they finally caught on that he was just “breaking them in.” However, John wasn’t always the perfect seaman as he and some fellow shipmates once broke into the captain’s quarters and stole his steaks and a big tub of ice cream. They fried the steaks on the steam boiler in the steam room and passed the tubs of ice cream around, feasting like kings! After he was discharged, John moved from Fort Wayne to Pierceton in 1975. He worked as a boiler operator at Whitley County Hospital from 1975 through 1988 before settling in as the superintendent of maintenance of Parkview Oaks until he retired in 2012.

John may not have had an overabundance of material things to give to his young family, but he more than made up for it in spending quality time together. They played various card games together every day. John did what he needed to including bartering with other farmers in exchange for milk or other garden goods. John’s generosity extended to others, too, as he once made snowshoes to take a two mile trek to a neighboring family to supply them with needed milk for their baby during the Blizzard of 1978. One snowshoe broke on the way home, leaving John to crawl over snow banks to get home, but this was not surprising as it representing his genuine concern for others.

Through the years John built a total of three complete homes for his family that were a gradual work in progress using the various skills he learned through the numerous classes he took. As his children got older John took them to the Pike Hole Resort on Cass Lake in Minnesota for a week packed full of fishing and memories. The whole family looked forward to the annual Arter hog roast that was carefully planned for by John and Don. The Arters also went mushroom hunting near Boon, Michigan, for 35 years where John carved a special tree in the forest with the words, “John Luvs Leisa” along with the years they were there. He loved being a grandfather in later years and spent as much time as he could with his grandchildren.

In addition to spending time with his family, John enjoyed numerous other things. He loved vacationing all over to places like Mexico and Jamaica among others, but his favorite was his trip to Key West this past November. John was also an avid ham radio operator #KB9JBV. In addition, he was a member of Due Guard Masonic Lodge #278, Larwill, Eagles Lodge #1906, Columbia City, AMVET, Mesick, MI, North Webster American Legion Post #253.

A true blessing in the lives of countless others, John Arter will be deeply missed. He leaves behind a timeless legacy for his loved ones to carry on.

John M. Arter, of Pierceton, IN, died on Saturday, April 12, 2014. John’s family includes his wife, Leisa R. Arter of Pierceton; son, Eric E.(Heather) Arter of Columbia City; 2 daughters; Melody (Shawn) R. Hall of Fort Wayne and Angela Cobb; 2 brothers, Jim D. (Brenda) Arter of Fort Wayne; Dave G.(Kim) Arter of Melbourne, FL; in laws, Jim and Sonja Burch, Fort Wayne; 2 step sons, Chad I. (Christelle) Snyder, South Whitley, Matthew J. Snyder, Pierceton; 3 brother in laws, Jeff (Rhonda) Burch, Fort Wayne, Mike D. (Eddie) Ryder, Travelers Rest, SC and Greg A. Ryder, Fort Wayne; 9 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. John was preceded in death by his parents, John A. and Helen A. Arter; daughter, Jamie Ann Arter; and granddaughter, Camdyn Lynn Snyder. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 18, 2014, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. and after noon on Saturday both at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. A Masonic Lodge Twilight Service conducted by Due Guard Lodge # 278 will be held at the funeral on Friday at 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home with Certified Funeral Celebrant, Sharon Brockhaus and Jim Burch, officiating. Burial will follow at Lakeview Cemetery, Larwill. Graveside military rites will be conducted by American Legion Posts #253 and #157. The Last Call will be presented by Ham Radio Operators. Memorial gifts may be given in Mr. Arter's memory to Cancer Services of N.E. Indiana. Please visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or sign the guest register book.