Harvey Lahr

Harvey Eugene "Gene" Lahr, 80, a resident of rural Churubusco in Allen County, passed away at 6:00 a. m. on Wednesday, October 10, 2012, at the family residence in Eel River Township.e He had been in declining health for some time, but his death was unexpected. Mr. Lahr was born on June 3, 1932 in Fort Wayne, a son of Ralph Richard and Hazel Deloris (Chester) Lahr, and graduated from Spencerville High School in 1951.e Upon completing his education, he moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan and also served with the U. S. Army during the Korean Conflict. On October 15, 1953 he was married in Grand Rapids to Nellie Irene Klunder.e The couple first lived in Washington DC during his military duty.e They later moved to Grand Rapids,and then moved to Eel River Township in 1958 where they spent most their adult years. Employed for several area trucking firms, he had been a semi truck driver for Advance Transportation in Fort Wayne for several years, retiring from there in 1993.e In his leisure time he enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, and a variety of outdoor activities. The surviving relatives include his wife Nellie, to whom he was married for nearly 59 years; two sons Ronald Lahr and John (Tracy) Lahr, both of Churubusco; two daughters Kathy (Michael) Reith and Cindi (Charles O'Donnell) Pollock, both of Fort Wayne; his sister Donna Marie Richards of Quincy, Mich; ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p. m. on Saturday, October 13, 2012, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Rev. Larry Smith, pastor of the Fellowship of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 2-4 and from 6-8 p. m., or one hour prior to the service Saturday afternoon. Interment with military graveside rites will be in the Huntertown Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Fellowship of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, 13733 Wesley Chapel Road, Churubusco, INe 46723.