VALERIE A. TAGTMEYER

VALERIE A. TAGTMEYER, died Friday, Jan. 13, 2012 at St. Anne Home after a sudden decline in her health. Born in Fort Wayne on March 19, 1921, she was a life-long resident. She attended grade school at Concordia Lutheran School, and was a graduate of the Central High School class of 1938. She met Louis Tagt-meyer in her junior year of high school when she was 16 years old and the rest was history. Married on May 1, 1942, Louis and Valerie built their home in Fort Wayne and were married 69 years. She was well known to many in Fort Wayne as both a runway and photography model, whose photos often appeared in the Society pages of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette and the Fort Wayne News Sentinal. She frequently modeled for Hutners Paris, Baldwin Dow, L.S. Ayres, Nobbson's and Fishman's over a period spanning 40 years. Valerie was crowned Mrs. Fort Wayne in 1952. She also made several TV appearances during her career, including Bowling For Dollars in the 1960s. Never adverse to hard work, she was also employed by Colonial Mortgage Company, Lincoln Life Insurance, Indiana Bank, and Reynolds & Reynolds, finally ending her wage-earning days at Bedazzled. "Those who knew Valerie always commented on her joyous spirit, as evidenced by her smile, even during her declining years. She was the consummate hostess, and nothing made her happier than entertaining in her home for family and friends." She enjoyed decorating, reading, watching movies, and shopping. Surviving are her husband of 69 years, Louis Tagtmeyer of Fort Wayne; daughters, Susan K. (John) Alexander of State College, Pa. and Kristine J. (Rick) Forbing of Auburn; son, Scott M. (Linda) Tagtmeyer of Huntertown; grandsons, Todd (Christine) Alexander of Boca Raton, Fla. and Michael (Christine) Tagtmeyer of Fort Wayne; granddaughter, Ashleigh (Dustin) Shetler of Aurora, Colo.; and four great-grandchildren with one on the way. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Clara (Richhart) Sieling; brother, Merlin C. (Mary Ellen) Sieling; and granddaughter, Courtney L. Alexander. Mass of Christian Burial is at 10 a.m. Tuesday Jan. 17, 2012 at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1122 S. Clinton Street, with calling one hour prior. Msgr. Schulte will be officiating. Calling is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday Jan. 16, 2012 with a vigil service at 3:30 p.m. at D.O. McComb & Sons Pine Valley 1320 E. Dupont Road. Burial immediately following in Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made for the Catholic Masses for the repose of Valerie's Soul or St. Anne Home. To sign the online guest book, go to www.mccombandsons.com