J. Allen Willmert, 87, of North Manchester, Indiana, died at 12:30 PM, Monday, April 1, 2013 at Timbercrest Healthcare Center in North Manchester. He was born January 25, 1926 in Lakeville, Indiana to Fremont Immanuel and Laura F. (Braunschweig) Willmert.Allen was a graduate of Van Wert High, Ohio High School, Manchester College, and United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He received his Masters in Library Science from the University of Michigan. He was a US Navy veteran serving during World War II. He married Mary Ellen Sparling in Wabash , Indiana on June 12, 1949. She died December 22, 2007. Allen was ordained to ministry by the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Over his lifetime, Allen served as a pastor, teacher and librarian, retiring from Manchester College in 1989 after 23 years as librarian. He was a member of the North Manchester United Methodist Church. He loved people, enjoyed classical music and woodworking, and was unafraid to tackle any project. Allen and his wife, Mary Ellen, lived at 716 Bond Street in North Manchester until moving to Timbercrest in May of 2005.He is survived by four children Jane Willmert and Stanley (Mary) Willmert, both of Wabash, Carl (Antoinette) Willmert of North Manchester, and Melanie (Kevin) Gearhart of Fort Wayne, Indiana; six grandchildren, David (Megan) Willmert of North Lauderdale, Florida, Michael Willmert of North Manchester, Konrad (Julie) Willmert of Jonesboro, Indiana, Kristopher (Stephanie) Willmert of LaFontaine, Indiana, Anne Willmert of Wabash, and Megan Gearhart of Fort Wayne; and three great-grandchildren; sister, Carol (Richard) Munk of Fort Wayne, and brother-in-law, Rolland Scherry of Decatur, Indiana. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Nancy Scherry, and Reta Ann Willmert.Memorial services will be held at North Manchester United Methodist Church, 306 E. 2nd Street, North Manchester, on Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 2:30 PM with Rev. Larry Ray and Rev. Kevin DeKoninck officiating. Family will receive friends from 3:30 - 6 PM, Sunday, after the service at the church.Arrangements by Grandstaff-Hentgen Bender Chapel, 207 W. Main Street, North Manchester.Preferred memorials are North Manchester United Methodist Church or Heifer Project International.
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