Howard E. Baumgartner

Howard E. Baumgartner, 101, of Berne, Indiana, passed away on October 30, 2025, at Swiss Village in Berne. He was born on June 8, 1924 to Elmer W. Baum- gartner and Bertha (Lehman) Baumgartner in Berne, Indiana. He married Phyllis J. Hartzler on August 17, 1947.

Howard was an alumnus of Bluffton University and Indiana University (BS in Business) and Indiana University School of Law (JD). He practiced law in Berne from 1950 until 1994, founding Baumgartner Law Office (later Baumgartner & Beitler, and now Baumgartner Attorneys PC). His law practice was concentrated in the areas of real estate law, corporations, estate planning and settlements and municipal law. He was also very involved in local Mennonite churches and numerous boards of the broader Mennonite church, including the Board of Directors of Mennonite Mutual Aid (now Everence), the Board of Trustees of Bluffton University, and Central District Conference of Mennonite Church USA.

He is survived by five children, Barbra J. (James Myers) Gant of East Liberty, Ohio; Jean (Wendell) Miller of Bluffton, Ohio; Joyce (Marvin) Hall of State College, Pennsylvania; James (Naomi) Baumgartner of Goshen, Indiana; and David (Tanya) Baumgartner of Berne. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and a step-great-grandchild. Visitation will be at Swiss Village auditorium from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, November 14, 2025. A memorial service will be at Swiss Village auditorium at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2025. A private family burial will be held at MRE Cemetery prior to the service. Preferred memorials are to be made to Swiss Village Samaritan Fund, Bluffton University or Mennonite Central Committee.

Arrangements by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Homes, Yager-Kirchhofer Chapel of Berne, Indiana