Maurice John "Butch" Stark Jr

Auburn – Maurice John “Butch “Stark, Jr, 84 passed away at his home in Auburn on Saturday July 25, 2026 with his family at his side.

He was born August 9, 1941 in Auburn to Maurice J and Marvelle M (Schuller) Stark, Sr.

He was raised in Bryan, Ohio and attended grade school at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Edgerton, Ohio. His family moved to the Auburn Area and he graduated from Riverdale High School in St. Joe in 1960. After High School Butch joined the U.S. Air Force. He served 2 years in Savanah, Georgia and 2 years in Kansas. He was honorably discharges from the Air Force and returned to Auburn.

He worked at Cooper Tire for 2 years, then warner Gear for 2 years. He then went to work at International Harvester in Fort Wayne until the plant closed in 1983.He spent the next 4 ½ years at Rieke Corporation in Auburn before returning to International Harvester in Springfield, Ohio for 15 years before retiring in 2003.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fort Wayne, American Legion Post 97 of Auburn and a lifelong member of the Auburn Moose Lodge. He had a passion for cars and car shows and in his younger years he raced and built race cars. He enjoyed bowling and playing softball and racquetball.

Maurice married Kathy S. Creager on June 24, 1972 in Auburn and she survives.

He is also survived by 3 children, Maurice John (Brandy) Stark III of Atlanta, Georgia, Leila Perkins of Savannah, Georgia and Heather Swift of Auburn; 9 grandchildren, Jennifer Stark, Nicole Stark, Amber Stark, Johnathon Stark, Maurice J Stark IV, George Perkins, Gavin (Emily) Swift, Penelope (Brandon) Doehrman and Tommy Swift; 4 great grandchildren, Destiny, Jimmy, Ayden and Legend; sister, Etta Creager of Waterloo, 2 brothers-in-law, Bill Johnson of Garrett and Ronald Creager of Auburn.

He was preceded in death by his parents, great granddaughter, Johnathena, 3 sisters, 5 brothers-in-law and a sister-in-law, Norma Johnson, Darlene and Ralph Baker, Sonja and Paul Martin, Duane Creager, Ricky Creager, Randy Creager and Colleen Creager.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 AM Thursday July 30 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 4643 Gaywood Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46806. With Father Edward Brodsky officiating. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the mass from 9 to 10 AM Thursday at the church. Additional calling will be later in the afternoon from 1 to 3 PM at Feller and Clark Funeral Home, 1860 Center Street, Auburn, IN 46706 with a Rosary being recited at 3 PM. Following the Rosary, burial will take place in Auburn Catholic Cemetery with military funeral honors conducted by the U.S. Air Force and the Auburn/Garret American Legion Funeral Honor team. Memorials can be given in memory of Maurice to the American Cancer Society or the DeKalb County Humane Shelter. To send condolences to the family visit www.fellerandclark.com.

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