William Fennig

William Fennig, age 94, of Portland passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie.

Bill was born April 24, 1930, in Jay County, the son of Harold and Martha (Smith) Fennig. When Bill was a toddler, his father died in a trucking accident, and Martha married Fred L. Miller, the man he called Dad for the rest of his life.

After graduating from Portland High School in 1948, Bill enlisted in the United States Air Force and following his discharge returned to Portland to work with his maternal uncles at the family business, Rockledge Products, and to marry his high school sweetheart, Georgianna Russell of Montpelier. When Georgia died in 1993, Bill married Rose Mock, who survives.

Bill stayed with the quarry through ownership changes for 44 years, retiring in 1996 from Meshberger Brothers Stone. He then went to work in the sporting goods department of Walmart, first in Portland and later in Winchester. He retired for good in 2009.

Surviving in addition to his wife Rose are two children, Anne (Tom) Jennings of Englewood, Florida, and Dale Fennig of Angola, Indiana; granddaughters Jennifer (Doug) DeWinter, Summerville, South Carolina, Amber (Clint) Sours, Garrett, Indiana, and Lindsey Fennig of Angola; great-grandchildren Addison and Ella DeWinter, Gavin and Alexa Dickinson, and Liam Fennig; and two sisters, Judy (Larry) Stanford, Indianapolis, and Patty Gross, Atlanta. First-, second- and third-generation nieces and nephews abound and are scattered all over the country. Nephew Jim Fennig and his wife Betsy were special blessings as he aged.

Bill was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law Robert (Lib) Fennig; brother-in-law Dick Gross; and his daughter in-law Lisa Fennig.

Fresh water fishing was a great passion of Bill's and over the years he spent many happy hours in Angola at the family cottage on Lake George and on fishing vacations to Wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada. When fishing trips became impractical, Bill installed a koi pond in his backyard and spent hours caring for, rather than catching, fish. He took great pride in maintaining his yard and gardens well into his 80s and was an accomplished woodworker until age made him fear for his fingers. Bill was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church in Portland, where over the years he served on many committees and the church council. Bill was a Mason and also a member of the local Kiwanis Club. He especially enjoyed working in the food stand during the Jay County Fair and the Tri-State Antique Tractor and Engine Show.

Funeral services will be Saturday, Aug. 17, at 11 a.m. in the Zion Lutheran Church in Portland with Pastors Robin Owen and Darrell Borders presiding. Burial will follow in the Mount Zion Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to ELCA World Hunger.

Baird-Freeman Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Condolences may be expressed at bairdfreeman.com.