OBITUARY Jane McKay Deister July 30, 1931 – September 26, 2018 Jane McKay Deister, age 87, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on Wednesday, September 26, 2018. Born July 30, 1931, in Fort Wayne, Jane graduated from South Side High School in 1949 and then attended Northwestern University. After the death of her mother, she continued her education graduating from Babson College in Florida.
After graduation, Jane became a buyer for Burdine’s. She moved back to Fort Wayne and began working for Lincoln National Life Insurance Company. She was later employed at Lutheran Hospital as a clerk in the Bookkeeping Department.
Jane was united in marriage to Irwin F. Deister Jr. on August 25, 1956, and recently celebrated their sixty-second wedding anniversary. Jane became a member of the Fort Wayne Junior League, which included many years as a volunteer at the Bargain Box. She was also a member of the Saturday Club and Trinity English Lutheran Church.
Jane and her husband were one of the founding members of the Friday Night Club, comprised of several couples and their children, who spent hours of fun bowling, roller skating, ice skating, and playing tennis always followed by memorable meals in local saloons and cafes. Jane was known for her infectious laugh, her appreciation of a good joke, and her unparalleled sense of humor. Along with her distinctive style, her zest for life and her feisty spirit, she looked forward to living every day to its fullest.
Nothing exceeded Jane’s commitment to her family and her special devotion and deep love for her grandchildren. She greatly valued loyal friendships and would often be the first person to offer help in their time of need. She was known for her generosity and compassion for others.
She was an ardent tennis player and loved golf in the latter years of her life. She not only endured many years of attending University of Michigan football games, she actually learned to look forward to that Saturday commitment. In addition, due to her husband’s obsessive interest in all televised sports, Jane gleefully suffered through it.
She had a true love of travel and enjoyed many memorable trips abroad with close friends. Jane so loved spending time with her family which included annual trips to Pawleys Island, SC; DeBordieu, SC; Naples, FL; as well as memorable trips with her entire family to celebrate their fiftieth and sixtieth wedding anniversaries. In addition to her travels, Jane enjoyed many years of relaxing and boating at the family cottage on Lake Wawasee.
Since she disliked cold weather, Jane greatly looked forward to the winter months she spent in Naples, FL. She is survived by her husband, Irwin; her daughters, Ellen “Ellie” (Larry) Bricmont of Bay Village, OH and Melinda “Mindy” (Tom) Mooradian of Harbor Springs, MI; grandchildren Thomas McKay Bricmont, MacKay “Mackie” Martha Mooradian, Frederick “Flick” Deister Mooradian, and Kathryn Anne Bricmont; her sister-in-law, Elise Macomber; and her wonderful nieces and nephews David, Tom, and Nancy Fleming; Mardie Macomber Leader; and Jenny, Linda, and John Manske. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jennie and Frank McKay; sisters Ellen Fleming and Nancy Manske.
Calling hours will be held on Saturday September 29 from 1-3 pm and 5-7 pm at D.O. McComb & Sons Funeral Home, 8325 Covington Road. A private funeral service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mayo Clinic Department of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905 in support of Mayo Clinic Model of Care Online-philanthropy.
mayoclinic.org/donatemc the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation PO Box 548, Syracuse IN 46567, or Turnstone, 3320 North Clinton St., Fort Wayne IN 46805.
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