09/16/2025
Jerry Wayne Albaugh, 86, of Scott (rural Shipshewana) Van Buren Township, LaGrange County, Indiana, traded his earthly home for his eternal one in the early morning hours of Saturday, September 13, 2025, at his home. He had been under the care of Parkview Hospice and his family following declining health related to congestive heart failure, kidney failure and sporadic mini strokes over the last six months. Oxygen dependent and two bad knees…we praise God that he is no longer confined to his chair, but truly restored and free!
Jerry was born in his early childhood home in Kendallville, Noble County, Indiana on January 20, 1939, to Clarence and Kathryn (Marshall) Albaugh. The youngest of four children, Jerry enjoyed his Hoosier upbringing in a tight-knit and respect-driven family. He began his education in Kendallville, until his family moved to Brimfield, where he took the daily walk to and from the rural schoolhouse. In 1953 the Albaugh family moved to Scott and Jerry attended Scott High School and was enrolled at the time of the school’s merger with Shipshewana. He graduated from the Shipshewana-Scott High School with the class of 1957. With a thoughtful sacrifice from his not-so-rich parents, he travelled with his senior class via train to the east coast for a tour of the national capital in Washington D.C. and various sites along the way.
Jerry went on to serve his country in the United States Army, date of induction: February 5, 1962. He received the ranking of Private First Class (E-3) on October 11, 1962 and continued active duty until his expiration of term of service: February 4, 1964. Jerry received his honorable discharge from the Army Reserve on January 31, 1968. A trained sharp-shooter, he was assigned during his active period a security detail of an Army General and was in Dallas, TX escorting the General on business unrelated to President Kennedy’s public parade appearance on November 22, 1963. Following notification of President Kennedy’s assassination, he escorted the General to Parkland Memorial Hospital where he assisted with the hospital lock-down during the post assassination response.
On May 15, 1965, Jerry married Vona Mable Buckland at the Nazarene Church in Kendallville. They divorced November 1, 1974. This relationship bore fruit in the form of four daughters: Sandy, Kimberly, Vicki and Lisa.
Looking to rebuild his life after his divorce, he sought a relational faith and began attending the Scott United Methodist Church, where he traded his Pall Mall ci******es for a bible and gave his heart to Jesus. It was here that he was reintroduced to a high school acquaintance, Claudia Smith. Five years his junior; never married and conveniently available, they made a quick and organic connection. They were married at the Scott UMC by the Rev. George Dinwiddie on July 6, 1975. July of 2025, they celebrated their Golden Anniversary of fifty years. They had no children together, but Claudia grew to love Jerry’s girls and grandchildren as her own.
The son of a skilled craftsman, Jerry began swinging a hammer and cutting before measuring twice at a young age. The measuring twice was a rookie skill that he “selectively forgot” and left him humorously short on more than one occasion. As a boy through his teenage years he worked beside dad in the barn learning to navigate various tools and complete odds and ends projects. He helped dad work Huff’s Potato Farm northwest of Aldrich Lake on Fawn River Rd. (White Pigeon Twp., Michigan), just a few miles from their home. After high school, Jerry went to work with his dad at IXL in Goshen and later followed him to Academy (later known as Skyline) where he worked his way up to the position of Foreman of the road crew. He was in Grand Rapids, Michigan on a service call when the blizzard of 1978 began to fall. By the time he reached White Pigeon, Michigan, the snow was knee high. Unable to make his way down some of the back roads to return home, his co-worker, Lewis (Carl) Eichorn, dropped him off on the shoulder of the Indiana toll road where he walked the one-third mile stretch home across the drifting field. He promised to phone Mrs. Eichorn with the message he had made it safely. Rumor has it, he still shivered every time he recalled the story. He retired as a Cabinet Maker from Dutchman RV in 2008, his hand forced by a collapsing housing crisis economy and an emergent heart triple bypass surgery.
Jerry & Claudia also owned CJ Ceramics, a custom ceramics shop they operated out of their auxiliary building on their simple five-acre estate in the heart of Amish country. Jerry was commonly seen firing up the kiln, mixing clay, and pouring molds. He left the more creative elements in the hands of his talented and beautiful wife. Together, they made regular appearances with their business at special events and the Shipshewana Flea Market. CJ Ceramics closed in 1994, remnants of it still visible every Christmas on the stage of the Scott UMC church sanctuary as the mid-life sized caricatures of the Nativity scene remind us of the one in which Jerry had placed his hope and trust.
An avid Nascar fan, Jerry was quick to remind the young grandchildren on Sunday afternoons at his mother’s home that their daddies weren’t glass makers as they blocked his strategic view of the television while he was simultaneously playing a round of Hand-in-Foot, Euchre, or Yahtzee. It’s also possible while he was obnoxiously counting scores that he has certainly failed to carry over the “one” or “two” on more than one occasion. Despite the outcry of his fellow card players, children and grandchildren as the primary injured parties request for recount, our motion was commonly denied by the doctrine of “I said so” and grounded in the principle of “respect your elder.” His grandchildren, quick learners, as the second battle call normally resulted in an automatic and involuntary path removal. Jerry enjoyed working with his wife and mother in their family garden and was pretty attached to the one-ton diesel Chevrolet truck he bought before his retirement. He once hollered at his grandson, Ben, for starting it faster than the coil heater light confirmed it safe to start. Ben replied, “Grandpa, it’s June!” To which he stated, “well pay attention, then you’ll know when it matters.”
Jerry was easily identifiable in the crowd. His handsome slicked back hair-wave, and cackling laugh were familiar to anyone who knew him. A loud man, he demanded the attention of those to whom he spoke and could easily silence a room. His no nonsense approach yielded simple results, and if he thought you were wrong…he said, “oh bologna!” with a stern face. Famous for an ornery personality, his opinions and instructions were mostly warranted and sometimes appreciated. His advice and calls to action were coveted by all who sought to leverage them. An animal lover, Jerry and Claudia raised Australian Shepherds. They enjoyed the company of their Australian Shephard, Patches; and their German Shephard, Mink. They later enjoyed the company of their Dachshunds: Molly, Oliver and Katie. They also survived a season of their demon-possessed cat, Charlie. The cat species later redeemed itself as Jesse was a comfort to Jerry up to the time of his passing.
Jerry was faithful in serving his church family for many years as a Trustee, caring for the physical grounds and ensuring the financial stewardship of the local body. He had most recently served as Chairman of the church board. Strategically seated in the back row on the audience's right side along the aisle, always keeping watch, he swiftly extinguished some Christmas holly that had made contact with a shortening candle. A hero to many in their own way!
Raised in a Democrat family, Jerry was a regular and active voter. Disgusted by the pathological lies of the Clinton administration, a quiet admiration for various victories of the Reagan administration, and an on-going moral decay of government, Jerry was initially skeptical of a Trump presidency, but proud to say he rode the Trump train!
He will be sorely missed by those who loved him, including his lovely wife, 4 daughters,12 grandchildren, and 33 great-grandchildren:
His wife Claudia (Smith) Albaugh, Scott (Shipshewana), IN.
Daughter, Sandy Burkhead of LaGrange, IN, and her children: Daryl Goody, Jeremy Goody, Keith Caldwell, Chelsea (Bell) Brown, and her 11 grandchildren.
Daughter, Kimberly Myers (Allen Gunthorpe) of Howe, IN, and her children: Christopher LaForce, Gary LaForce, and Oliver LaForcel and her eight grandchildren (one on the way).
Daughter, Vicki Houser (David Houser) of Shipshewana, IN, and her children: Benjamin R. Myers, Lacy Myers, and Calysta Myers, and her 10 grandchildren (one on the way).
Daughter, Lisa Good (John Good) of Auburn, IN, and her children: Lita (Woodworth) Kemerer and Teri (Woodworth) Studeman, and her 4 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Clarence “Dutch” (1990); mother, Kathryn “Katie” (2006); sister, Betty Hanson (2018); brothers: Dean Albaugh (2004), Robert (Bobby) Albaugh (2023); son-in-law, Jim J. Burkhead (2020); great-granddaughter, Melody Marie Gangwer (2019); great-grandson, Zavier Michael Ray, died at birth (2022); and three of his infant siblings that died at birth: brother, Louise Albaugh; sisters, Francis and Renee Albaugh.
The family has chosen cremation and will host a Celebration of Life Memorial Service at the Scott United Methodist Church, 7020 N 675 W, Shipshewana, IN 46565 at a later date. The Rev. Joshua Watts, Pastor will officiate. Benjamin R. Myers, Jerry’s grandson, will deliver the eulogy and share special music. Internment will be at Sidener Cemetery in Van Buren Township via a private family ceremony. Hess Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 603 Detroit St., LaGrange, IN 46761 has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Memorial donations in his memory may be directed to the Scott UMC, address above.
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