Joseph E "Joe" Baldwin

Auburn – Joseph E. (Joe) Baldwin, 88, of Auburn, passed away Thursday February 19, 2026, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne.

He was born in Allen County, IN on January 13, 1938, to Glen V. and Dortha E. (Myers) Baldwin.

Joe graduated from Leo High School in 1956, where he was a member of the track team, the Youth for Christ and 4-H programs. After school, Joe went to Hamilton, OH to work with Show Cattle and traveled with them to Thomasville, Ga. Upon returning to Fort Wayne, he worked for Amstutz and Davis Well Drilling of Fort Wayne and then was hired at International Harvester/Navistar where he was a Union Steward and was a Safety Committeemen until the Fort Wayne Plant closed and then spent 4 years at the Springfield, OH Plant before retiring in 1988. He also worked for Snyder Construction in Saint Joe, IN during this time and then again after he retired. He owned and operated Joe’s Butcher Shop out of his home for the last 33 years for area farmers and the surrounding community.

He raised Chinchillas for 43 years as members of the ECBC and an intricate part of MCBA in being on the Console Board and as the president of the organization. Joe was a National and International Chinchilla judge for 25 years and trained many future judges.

Joe was an active member of Robinson Chapel UMC for over 67 years, where he had been a Sunday School Teacher and a Youth Group Leader. He was very active in doing fund-raising projects for not only Robinson Chapel but also other churches in the area and for other organizations such as fish fry’s and hog roasts.

Joe married the love of his life, Joan Alice VanHorn on September 20, 1958, at Robinson Chapel, she survives

Also surviving are 2 daughters, Connie and John Tempel of Jacksonville, Florida, Karen Kay Baldwin Howe Mansfield and Joseph Mansfield of Butler, IN, a son, Dale Alan and Lisa Baldwin of Saint Joe, daughter-in-law Charolette Baldwin of Kendallville, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law Ruth Baldwin of Garrett and a bother-in-law and his wife Lee and Marsha VanHorn of Kentwood, MI.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, son, Paul E. Baldwin, grandson, Ryan J. Baldwin, 2 sisters, Judith and Eldon DeWitt, Maryann Baldwin Reynolds, 2 brothers Robert Baldwin and John Baldwin, a brother and sister-in-law Wayne and Claudia VanHorn.

Services will be 11 am on Saturday March 7, 2026, at Robinson Chapel UMC, 12707 Tonkel Rd, Fort Wayne, IN. Visitation will be Friday March 6, 2026, from 2 to 7 pm at Feller and Clark Funeral Home, 1860 Center Street Auburn, IN and 1 hour prior to the funeral service on Saturday at the church from 10 to 11 am. Burial will take place on Monday March 9, 2026 at 10 am in Covington Memorial Gardens in Fort Wayne, IN. Memorials can be given in memory of Joe to the Robinson Chapel UMC Memorial Fund. To send condolences to the family visit www.fellerandclark.com.

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