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John Baughman

July 3, 1948 - February 5, 2017
Kendallville, IN

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Life Story / Obituary


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When reflecting on the life on John Baughman, it is easy to see that his entire life’s journey was deeply rooted in the faith he held near and dear to his heart. He worked hard, but he played hard, too, and his zest for life was truly contagious. There was no greater gift in John’s life than his family, and his devotion to his wife, his children, and his grandchildren was easy to see. A kid at heart in many ways, he lived life like it was an adventure, and he made sure those around him had as much fun as he did. Life will never be the same without John here, but he leaves behind a timeless legacy that his loved ones will proudly carry on in his footsteps.

During the first half of the 1940s, the eyes of our nation were focused overseas as countless young servicemen and women were deeply entrenched in WWII. With the war’s end in 1945, rationing was no longer in place, manufacturing wasn’t focused on supporting the war effort, and America was making the shift to being a nation at peace once again. Amidst this transitional time was a time of a great celebration in the lives of Richard John and Esther Emma Louise Baughman as they were pleased to announce the birth of the baby boy they named John Lynn on July 3, 1948, in Kendallville, Indiana. He was the only child in his family and spent a lot of time at his maternal aunt's farm and with his extended family. John attended local schools and was part of the last graduating class of Kendallville High School in 1966. He then went to trade school to learn the plumbing trade. While growing up John’s mother made a lasting impact on his life as she laid the groundwork for his faith in God, which was a cornerstone in his life. She also taught him to love cooking.

As a young man John was eager for all that life had in store. He served in the United States Army during the days of the Vietnam War. John was a combat engineer while in Vietnam. There was one time that he was working on constructing a building and took a break with a Pepsi and a Hershey bar, only to have the place he had just been get bombed. John always described how they would build a bridge and it would get blown up, they would build a road and it would get blown up, they would build a building only to have it get blown up as well.

New and exciting changes were in store for John when he met a woman named Constance Marie “Connie” Froelich. They began dating and later fell in love. With a desire to share a life together, they were married on November 26, 1972, in Kendallville. Together they welcomed their daughter, Natalie, into their hearts and home. Skilled and hard working, John was employed as a master plumber with Henning’s Plumbing and Heating of LaOtto. He was highly sought after in his work, and worked hard to provide his family with a comfortable lifestyle. Later on, it was so hard for John and his family as his wife battled her illness. John was empathetic and tender, and it was so hard for him to watch his wife struggle while also struggling with his own illness. On January 17, 2000, he was deeply saddened with Connie’s death.

Brighter days were on the horizon for John when he became acquainted with Deborah Vanette Eden. They met playing online euchre and were also on the same dating site. John and Deb also both lost their spouses to cancer. Their relationship grew, love blossomed, and on June 28, 2003, they were married.

There were so many things that John loved throughout his life. He treasured his family above all else, and he cherished every moment they spent together. John was thrilled to become a grandfather, and he loved joking around with his grandchildren. He had the best sense of humor and was forever telling them jokes and was especially known for his one-liners. John’s Donald Duck voice was always a hit, and he also just enjoyed watching his grandkids grow. Christmas was his favorite time of the year since the family was together. He did some traveling with Grand Haven, Michigan, Naples, Florida, Bonita Beach, Florida, and Ixtapa, Mexico being among his favorite places to visit. Even if they were just eating out or playing cards, John just loved being with his family. A man of faith, he was a longtime and faithful member of St. John Lutheran Church in Kendallville. He was a sports fan who loved the Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Indians, and IU basketball. An outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing, and he also collected both coins and knives. John enjoyed watching Fox News in his downtime, too.

All who knew John Baughman would agree that he was an extraordinary man to know and love. He was compassionate and selfless, the sort of person who hurt when others were hurting. At the same time, John cried plenty of happy tears throughout his life. He taught his family to love no matter what, to never stop fighting, and who could forget how John was convinced that donuts make everything better! Patient and faithful, John was there to help family and friends in any way he could, and his devotion to the people and things he loved was such an inspiration. Deeply loved, he will never be forgotten.

John Lynn Baughman, died Sunday, February 5, 2017, at Parkview Noble Hospital in Kendallville, Indiana. John’s family includes his wife, Deb Baughman of Kendallville; daughter, Natalie Whan of Brownstown, Indiana; three grandchildren, Olivia, Ian, and Aaron Whan.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, February 7th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Hite Funeral Home in Kendallville. There will also be visitation at the church an hour prior to the funeral service. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Kendallville. Pastor Robert Shriner will conduct the service. Burial will follow at Lake View Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to St. John Lutheran Church. Share a memory or send a condolence at www.hitefuneralhome.com

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