About
Samuel Mink Obituary
Born on January 2, 1961, in Columbia City, Indiana, he was a son of Lawrence Daniel (Dan) and Betty May (Wolfe) Mink. Raised in the Whitley County area, he attended South Whitley Elementary School and graduated from Whitko High School in 1979. He continued his education at the University of North Western Ohio, and obtained his Diesel Technology degree.
Samuel recently retired from Palmer Trucks as a diesel technician in February of 2026.
Sam enjoyed hunting, fishing and being in his woods. He loved his daughters, Sammie and Sophie and would talk about them everywhere he went.
Surviving are his daughters, Samantha Ann Mink of Tonopah, Nevada and Sophie Ryan Martinez of Pahrump, Nevada; his mother, Betty May Mink of South Whitley; sisters, Becki (Mike) Vanderford and Christine Mink-Palmer both of South Whitley, and Vicki Watkins of Warsaw, Indiana.
He was preceded in death by his father Lawrence Daniel Mink.
As per Sam's wishes, there will be no services.
Arrangements are by Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
2 Entries
Jeff Kelsey
Yesterday
Sam. Always such a kind soul. So blessed to know you from Scouting and so grated to have reconnected a few years ago. Rest well my friend
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Bob & LeeAnn Snyder
March 18, 2026
Over the past few days we have recalled the following memories of Sam. Sam and his family grew up in the same rural neighborhood as did the Shillings, the Bauman and Walgalmuth families,
the Pooks, Kenny´s, and the Beards, and the Geists, and Ruth Ann and her husband and her parent´s farm. Sam´s grandma was our teacher at So. Whitley School. Sam´s mom, Betty worked at the bank for years. I recall one night there was a bad storm that came through with lots of thunder and lightning and wind all night long. When morning finally came the Knote family set out to get their morning chores done of feeding the chickens and ducks, gather eggs and taking care of all the other animals on the farm. When we stepped outside we were greeted with screams of "Help! Help!" Up in the tree by the hen house we´re 2 peacocks!! Sam´s family came and collected their peacocks and took them home. I recall the times when Sam would get on the school bus before the Knote Children would and when I would take my seat on the bus, Sam would move up into my seat and just look up at me with his blonde flat top hair and a great big smile. It was just a phase, and he was always kind and showed good manners about himself. Fast forward to much later down life´s road, we recall that our nephew, Brad and Sam became good friends and shared an interest in guns!! And of course my husband, Bob was right there with them at different times when they came to our house. Sam´s Nick name was "Minky" whenever his name came up in a conversation between Brad and Bob. Then much later, Bob and Sam had gotten hired at about the same time at Palmer Trucking and they rode back `n forth to work together. Bob retired from Palmer Trucking in 2019 and Sam in February of 2026. Sam is missed and it is with our deepest sympathy and thoughts and prayers as his mom and sisters and his daughters and all their families are grieving the loss of his presence here amongst us!! Sincerely, Bob and LeeAnn Snyder
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207 N Main St, Columbia City, IN 46725
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