WALTER "SKIP" SASSMANNSHAUSEN Jr.

1941 - 2022

WALTER "SKIP" SASSMANNSHAUSEN JR., went to sleep to meet his beloved on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at the Towne House. Born in St. Anne's Hospital, Chicago, Ill., on Nov. 10, 1941, he was a son of Walter and Ethel (Boseck) Sassmannshausen. He grew up in Crystal Lake, Ill., and attended Valparaiso College where he met Lynn Brieschke at a Pi Kappa Alpha mixer his freshman year. By the second week of dating, he proposed and the two were married on Jan. 25, 1964. After graduation, Skip and Lynn moved to Fort Wayne where they both became teachers at Mt. Calvary Lutheran School in Waynedale. After a few years, Skip took a position in the Fort Wayne Community Schools at Geyer Junior High School teaching U.S. History. He retired after 20 years of teaching there and moved to Concordia Lutheran High School where he taught Humanities and psychology. He retired from teaching in 2002. While Skip was a master teacher, he also loved coaching. Throughout his career one of his passions was coaching football. He modeled his style after Coach Vince Lombardi and excelled in getting the most from the athletes he was coaching. He can claim multiple Division 1 football players and professional athletes that he had once nurtured. Skip's infatuation was steam locomotives. He was one of the founding members of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society. He was influential in the moving and ultimate success of 765 which once sat as a derelict heap of iron in Taylor Park. He was the editor for the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society newsletter and published a yearly calendar for 30 years. Every family vacation always included a stop or two to see a steam locomotive. He lost the love of his life in 2004 just before their 40th anniversary. Skip filled his time with painting, traveling, and steam locomotives. He was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2015. He was able to write a book on the Baker Street Station before the disease progressed. He is survived by his two sons, Dr. Jeffrey (Loretta) Sassmannshausen and Dr. Gregory (Jill) Sassmannshausen; five grandchildren, Connor, Carsen (Logan) Galbraith, Jacob, Hannah (Adam) Smith, and Luke; brother, Rick (Janet) in St. Charles, Ill.; sister, Karen (Steve) Fynaardt of Torrance, Calif.; and his very special friend, Sharon Zych. Funeral service is 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 917 West Jefferson Blvd., with calling one hour prior. Calling also from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at D.O. McComb & Sons Pine Valley Park Funeral Home, 1320 East Dupont Road, Fort Wayne. Burial will be in Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Concordia Lutheran High School Fine Arts Department. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Sassmannhausen family at www.mccombandsons.com