Bert E. Stepp, age 100, of Auburn passed away on June 5, 2022 in LaGrange, Indiana.
He was born on December 26, 1921 in Keystone, Indiana to Cibert and Carrie (Karns) Stepp.
On July 9, 1949 he married Mary Ellen Sterling at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Lincolnville, Indiana. They were married for 58 years prior to Mary’s passing on January 17, 2008. He is survived by his four sons and their wives; Sam (Sue), Paul (Beth), Jim (Teena) and Jon (Char). He is also survived by six grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and a plethora of nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife Mary, he was preceded in death by a grandson and all of his brothers and sisters; Lydia, Parker, John, Mike, Marjorie, George, Frances, Alice, his twin sister Berteen, Robert and Charles.
Bert graduated from Petroleum High School in Petroleum, Indiana and he was later drafted into the United States Army where he served as an infantryman (a participant in the Battle of the Bulge) and from which he received two Purple Heart medals. Following his honorable discharge, he graduated from Indiana Institute of Technology and was an engineer for 33 years at Tokheim Corporation in Fort Wayne.
In 1959 Bert and Mary moved from Fort Wayne to Auburn where they operated a small family farm, the primary goal of which was to keep their boys busy and out of trouble (and they were successful on both counts). Bert was an active member of the Christian Union Brethren in Christ Church near Garrett and for a number of years he also served on the Board of DeKalb County Child Evangelism Fellowship. Bert was an avid book collector and at one time his library contained over 4000 volumes. He was also an accomplished woodworker and was fond of the cabin that he built in his woods. He was well known for his strong conservative political opinions which he generously shared on many occasions. For most of his adult life he was fastidious about keeping a daily diary.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Feller and Clark Funeral Home, 875 South Center Street in Waterloo.
Funeral services will be held immediately following the visitation on Wednesday at 1:00 PM at the funeral home with Pastor Ron Remke officiating.
Burial will take place at Christian Union Cemetery in Garrett.
In Lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to Child Evangelism Fellowship, Northeast Chapter, P.O. Box 362, Auburn, Indiana 46706.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.fellerandclark.com and on our Facebook page at Feller and Clark Funeral Homes.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Feller and Clark Funeral Home in Waterloo.