Dawn

Howard

Dawn (Bartels) Howard, 77, of Leo, IN, passed away on March 3, 2022.

Dawn was born the first of three kids (there never was a Dusk born into the family) to Floyd and Ilo Bartels in Haviland, OH. She grew up on a farm and her heart never left. She loved God, her family and John Deere tractors – in that order. She used to joke that her blood ran green.

Once a nurse, always a nurse. Dawn graduated from Purdue University with her nursing degree in 1966 and worked for a long time at St Joe Hospital in Fort Wayne, IN. After she left her professional career, she was still often the first call when someone had a new symptom or injury. "Hey Mom, can you look at this?"

Mom was always doing something. She was active in 4-H as a leader for years and a cheerleader for even more as her kids continued in 4-H and beyond. After her youngest joined the Marines, she joined Blue Star Mothers and remained active right up until the end. The only other colors she liked as much as John Deere green were red, white and blue, so it was a good fit.

Mom was infamous for her fruit pizza and red applesauce (it was Jello-O, not cinnamon, that made it red, so… there were mixed reviews). It was never about the food though, she just loved to do little things for her family.

Dawn is survived by her two brothers, Darwin and Duane, and her four kids, Jonathan, Laura, Lynnette and Nathan. Most importantly, she is survived by the loves of her life, her grandkids: Paxton, Jackson, Emersen, Nathan, Jake, Justin, Everett and Violet.

­­Visitation will be at Leo United Methodist Church on Tuesday, March 8, from 5-7pm and on Wednesday, March 9, 10-11am before the service at 11am. Burial will be held at Blue Creek Cemetery, Haviland, OH.

If you feel so led, memorials can be made to K9's for Warriors – a non-profit group that rescues and trains shelter dogs to be paired as Service Dogs for veterans experiencing service-connected trauma.

K9s for Warriors

114 Camp K9 Road

Ponte Verde, FL 32081

https://k9sforwarriors.org/ways-to-support/