"To the whole Geiger clan, Aunt Mildred was a very sweet lady and she will be missed. Thinking of you all. Jenni Strack & James Davis"
Mildred F. Hess, 96, of Columbia City, passed away at 2:14 p.m. Monday, September 30, 2019 at Kingston Care Center, Fort Wayne. Born May 29, 1923 in Whitley County, she was the daughter of John Franklin and Mabel Agnes (Jagger) Hazen.
She graduated from Churubusco High School with the Class of 1941. On March 27, 1943 she married Charles Hess. Mildred always helped on the family farm and worked at the Blue Bell Factory in 1941 & 1942 and Blumenthal's in 1953 & 1954. Mildred had been a member of Blue River Community Church since 1974, a Sunday School teacher for beginners and youth for over 20 years, Mary Dell Circle-Treasurer and Whitley County Counsel on Aging.
Survivors include her sisters, Phylis Farmer, of Kendallville; brother, Paul (Delores) Hazen, of Columbia City; nieces, Judy Demske, Joan (Joe) Miller, Louise Wolfe, Karen (Jason) Mabie, Barb Geiger and Cheryl Geiger; nephews, Jess (Kay) Geiger, Ron (Janet) Farmer and Randy (Brenda) Farmer. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles Hess in 2011; brothers, Franklin Hazen and John Hazen; and sister, Margaret Geiger.
A gathering of family and friends will be 2-7 p.m. on Friday, October 4, 2019 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with Pastors Chad Shively and Ronald Scharfe officiating. Burial will follow at South Park (Annex) Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be given her memory to her church or Heartland Hospice. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send her family condolences online.
"To the whole Geiger clan, Aunt Mildred was a very sweet lady and she will be missed. Thinking of you all. Jenni Strack & James Davis"
"I have never met a more sweet lady. My father (Rene Miller) was best friends with Charles and Mildred. I moved out of the area, but was able to reconnect with Mildred and Charles about 50 years later. It was a highlight of my life to get to know them again. Mildred will be greatly missed."
"So very sorry to hear of Mildred passing, she was such a very swet lady, she is now with the Lord & the love of her life Charlie. She will be greatly missed by all that knew her. Eddie & Lynda ( Krider) Arnold"
"Joan & family, Sorry for your loss of Aunt Mildred. She was one of a kind!!! Todd, Heather & Hannah "
"May each of you find courage to face tomorrow as you rest in the knowledge that we truly care about each of your needs and that we will walk beside you in your journey of grief. Randy Grimes, Brett Gerber and the Staff of DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home "