Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
BORN
1937
DIED
2023
FUNERAL HOME
John Scheets Obituary
John R. Scheets, 86, of Elkhart, Indiana, died on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, at Elkhart General Hospital.
John was born Jan. 17, 1937, in Elkhart to the late John H. and F. Irene (Rhoads) Scheets.
On Sept. 25, 1955, in Elkhart, John married his high school sweetheart, Cherrie L. Mann. She survives along with a daughter, Lori (Jeff) Bradley of Cassopolis, Michigan; two sons, Patrick (Kathleen) Scheets of Warsaw, Indiana; and Jon "Rob" Scheets of Avon, Indiana; four grandchildren, Julie (Jon) Bisceglia, Jonathan (Stephanie) Scheets, Dorien (Bart) Orduno and Joseph Scheets; and one great-grandchild, Jenna Bisceglia.
With a career in banking that spanned nearly 40 years, John took great pleasure helping aspiring business owners reach their dreams, with beloved Elkhart steakhouse Heinnies being one of many examples. He was an equally passionate philanthropist and civic volunteer, especially locally, serving C.A.P.S., scouting, Elkhart Jazz Festival and Optimist, among many others. After retirement, he spent several years doing consulting work in the financial field. He enjoyed both playing and watching golf, and especially jazz music. A huge Chicago sports fan, he was a season ticket holder to both Bears and Notre Dame football.
John embodied the work hard/play hard spirit, and respected others with a similar mindset. He would often tackle challenging home projects on the weekends or after a long day at his regular job. Conversely, he possessed a charming, charismatic, larger than life personality and was the life of the party to whom all walks of life were drawn, especially at his own "Cheers" - Casey's - and countless jazz cruises. He truly tried to make everyone feel special in his presence. Before all else was his family, especially his grandchildren, all of whom he adored immeasurably.
He touched the lives of many and will be regarded as a true Elkhart icon.
Visitation will be held on Monday, Oct. 2, from 10 a.m. until the hour of the service at noon, all at Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home. Michael Kendall, a lay minister with the United Methodist Church, will officiate and burial will be in Rice Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in memory of John may be made to Child and Parent Services (C.A.P.S.), 1000 W. Hively Ave. Elkhart, IN 46517.
To leave the family an online condolence, please visit the funeral home website.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Scheets
Sponsored by Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home, Inc. - Elkhart.
George Lutz
September 21, 2024
Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.
Morris D. (Morry) Schrock Jr.
October 8, 2023
Cherrie & Family, My deepest condolences for your loss. Altho a year ahead of me in school, John always treated me as a peer, and we had a lot of fun together during those years. A kind, humerous, and generous man, the Elkhart scene will not be the same with his loss. May God Bless him, and be with his loved ones during this time.
Debbie Godfrey
October 6, 2023
I worked for John at the Data Center before we all moved downtown. He was a wonderful boss and a great man and will be missed. Rest in peace John
Cindy Smith
October 1, 2023
I worked at St. Joe Data Center when John was president. Such a nice man, very friendly. I can still see him running a grocery cart around the data center filled with Girl Scout cookies. A great person to work for. Our condolences to his family.
Thom Payne
October 1, 2023
During our lives we are fortunate to meet people who make a great difference to us, but also to many others. John was a force to lift everyones spirit whose lives he touched. He will be greatly missed but always remembered.
Lee and Diane Bradley
September 30, 2023
We have been Big fans of John since the day we met him. He was the father of Lori our sister in-law. He mentored us through opening a new business and was a very smart caring man. I will always be grateful for his guidance and making life a lot more fun. John will be sorely missed.
Donna
September 29, 2023
John was like a second father to me growing up. I can´t even express the love and laughter he always gave me. He was loving, funny and a caring man. I know mom and dad are greeting him in heaven with open arms. Playing some jazz!
Al & Sally Rowe
September 29, 2023
Our condolences to Cherrie, and all of John's family. He was a good egg, and we will remember him fondly~
Dick Hershberger
September 29, 2023
Big John was both a mentor and dear friend for many years while working for St. Joe, Midwest Commerce,NBD etc. My heart is filled with much gratitude and respect for having been able to enjoy working for and with Big John. Prayers go out to Cherrie and the kids. Rest in peace Big Guy.
Dick Hershberger
Dani Troup
September 29, 2023
John was a gentle giant. He will be missed
JACK B BURKETT
September 28, 2023
I first met John when he was President of the Saint Joseph Valley Bank Data Center in the Elkhart Industrial Park on the East Side in 1973 when I started at The Elkhart Clinic. They helped us move from an antiquated manual ledger card system to their state-of-the-art service bureau center for data processing. The bank invested heavily in data processing equipment and programmers which were very expensive at that time and cost prohibitive for individual businesses. This allowed our local businesses to grow as they finally had timely, accurate, and affordable data processing of their business transactions to manage their businesses efficiently. This was very cutting-edge at that time since personal computers and business software programs hadn´t been invented yet!!! With John´s outstanding leadership and support staff they were very successful. The Saint Joseph Valley Bank Data Center became a very robust enterprise as more and more businesses had them process their business transactions throughout the 1970s. Their programmers wrote data processing system programs for each new client, which were tailored to each client´s needs. Under John´s leadership, they filled this need for local businesses, and their growing number of clients exploded. John was always there to support his Sales Staff and the operations with a smile and offered his data processing team´s help. He loved greeting, meeting, and interfacing with their growing list of clients. I am saddened to hear of his passing. He was a great guy to meet and know.
Daisy Siler
September 28, 2023
John and I go back to 1955 when I went to work at St Joseph Valley and he was still in high school and he was polishing pillars on front of bank. Later worked as tellers at South Branch several year's together. We worked indirectly in the next years thru my 31yrs. Great friend and a wonderful man to entire Elkhart community.
My thoughts are with entire family at this time.
George Lutz
September 28, 2023
John was a classmate and a friend, as he was to all . yes he will be missed
Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results
Make a Donation
in John Scheets's name
Memorial Events
for John Scheets
Oct
2
Visitation
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home, Inc. - Elkhart403 W. Franklin Street, Elkhart, IN 46516
Oct
2
Service
12:00 p.m.
Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home, Inc. - Elkhart403 W. Franklin Street, Elkhart, IN 46516
Funeral services provided by:
Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home, Inc. - Elkhart403 W. Franklin Street, Elkhart, IN 46516
How to support John's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor John Scheets's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
