Jack Colemann Hart

1940 - 2025

Jack Colemann Hart, 84, of Fort Wayne, passed away on April 17, 2025, His death was caused by complications of myasthenia gravis. Jack was born July 4, 1940, in Fort Wayne. All of his elementary and high school years were also in Fort Wayne. In 1959 he joined the United States Marine Corps and trained in San Diego, California, where he was named Honor Man of his battalion and was presented with the Leatherneck Dress Blues Uniform Award. On July 10, 1965, Jack married Ruth Miller and they cherished over 59 wonderful years. They had two daughters Monica (Joe) Whitmer of Grand Rapids and Stephanie (Todd) Gross of Chicago. Jack was the very proud grandpa of six: Natalie Whitmer, Grant Whitmer (Autumn Mueller), Meredith Whitmer (Matt Fox), Charlie Gross, Jack Gross and Tommy Gross. As their proud grandpa, he relived his Franke Park Day Camp experiences with his grandchildren as they attended this camp. In 1971 he enrolled at IPFW where he earned a BS and an MS degree in Elementary Education. He taught fifth grade at Aboite Elementary School in Southwest Allen County for 26 years where he dedicated his life to our future generations. Jack loved his country, and he and Ruth traveled weeks every year to see many places of interest, especially National Parks. Williamsburg, Virginia was one of his favorite historical places to visit. Jack also loved to play double deck pinochle, and he and Ruth shared years of weekly games with dear friends, Kenny and Judy Richardson. And euchre was another of Jack's favorite games as were Dominoes, Yahtzee, and Five Crowns, all of which were shared for years with close friends including Jane and Larry Stolte during the many winters they all spent in Panama City Beach. Jack was an active member of the Arcola Community Church where he served as board president, usher and "assistant chairman of the church outreach program", which Ruth chairs. His love of serving those in need was deeply important in his life, and he was always kind and very caring to everyone. Proceeding Jack in death were his parents, Harry and Eva Hart, and his brothers, Wayne and Harold. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Goshen Road St. Matthews Lutheran Church Food Pantry or Arcola Community Church Outreach Program would be greatly appreciated by the family. A celebration of life service for Jack will be held Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Arcola Community Church, 11311 Arcola Road, Arcola, Indiana. Visitation will be from 10 A.M. until noon with the service immediately following.