Doris J. (Lee) Blickenstaff

Doris J. Blickenstaff, 84, passed away Sunday, November 30, 2025, at her home in Auburn.

A registered nurse and physician’s assistant, real estate broker, and community leader, Mrs. Blickenstaff retired from North American Van Lines in 1996 after 18 years as a manager of the medical department. She previously worked for Dr. Weirich and Dr. Shultz in Butler and was the first physician’s assistant to work in the DeKalb County area.

Most recently she was broker and owner of her own real estate business, Littlejohn Auctions and Realty. She also worked as an assistant to the medical review officer at RediMed, specializing in the Department of Transportation regulations, retiring in 2005.

Doris graduated from Butler High School in 1959 and Parkview School of Nursing in 1962. She was licensed as a physician’s assistant in 1975, a realtor in 1996, and a real estate broker in 2000.

Mrs. Blickenstaff was elected to serve on the DeKalb Central School Board from 1982 to 1990, serving as president for several years. She was a founding member and chairperson of the Aids Curriculum committee for the DeKalb Central School Corp. She was a member of Altarstar Methodist Church and served on the Board of Directors for the Northeast Indiana Association of Realtors. She was past member of Allen County Red Cross Board of Directors, and a chart member and past president of the board of directors for the Auburn Classic Noon Lions Club. She was named Lion of the Year in 2001 and named a WP Woods Fellow and a Melvin Jones Fellow - the highest award in Lionism. She was past president of both the Miss Northeast Pageant Board and the Miss Auburn Pageant Board, and former president of the Board of Directors for Woodlawn Cemetery.

Doris took great delight in quietly providing Christmas gifts for needy children for many, many years. She was a passionate and faithful Baron supporter and was a Baron Big Red ticket holder for more than 50 years. She was raised on a large farm in Franklin Township, cherishing and proudly acknowledging her farming heritage.

Doris was born in Garrett, Indiana on April 11, 1941, to Robert E. and Ruth (Houser) Lee. Her mother died in 2005, and her father died in 2019. She married Richard D. “Denny” Blickenstaff on December 1, 1962, who passed away in 1998. She was also preceded in death in 2011 by a special friend, Jack R. Gutermuth.

Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Bradford and Rhonda Blickenstaff of Auburn; two grandchildren, Heather Blickenstaff of Saint Louis, MO, and Kami Blickenstaff of Auburn; two sisters, Jennie Sue (Larry Temples) Gnagy of Waterloo, and Ann Lee of Bradenton, FL; one nephew, Jason (Amy) Gnagy of New Rochelle, NY; great niece and great nephew, Ava and Jack Gnagy; brother-in-law, Gary Blickenstaff of Coldwater, MI; foster son, Todd Moran of TX; and bonus family, Lori and Jim Proffitt and Cindi Gutermuth.

Visitation will be from 2 – 4 and 5 – 7 p.m. Thursday, December 4, 2025, at Feller and Clark Funeral Home, 1860 Center St., Auburn.

Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, December 5, 2025, at the funeral home, with visitation from 10 – 11 a.m. Friday, prior to the service. The Rev. Dr. Robert Craig will be officiating. 

Burial will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery in Auburn.

Memorial contributions may be given to DeKalb High School Athletic Department or the DeKalb County Community Scholars Fund in care of the Community Foundation DeKalb County.