Obituaries

August 3, 1936 to October 17, 2019

WINAMAC - Janet Jean Parker Simmermaker, 83, of Winamac died Thursday, Oct. 17, at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, surrounded by her family.

She was born in St. John on Aug. 3, 1936, the seventh of eight children born to Raymond and Heloise Parker. In 1950, before her freshman year in high school, her family moved from Dyer to Star City. At Star City High School, she was a cheerleader and senior class president and was affectionately nicknamed "Webster" for her impressive vocabulary. She quickly caught the eye of Star City neighbor John Simmermaker, who declared that he planned to "marry that girl someday." John and Janet went on to attend Ball State University, and were married on Dec. 18, 1955. He survives.

She is also survived by sister Carol (Roy) Halverson; children Jonathon (Lisa Zeyen), Jill (James) King, Jennifer, Jordan and Jolie; grandchildren Jaime (Jim) Garlick, Jocelyn Simmermaker, Jared (April) Simmermaker, Jordan King and Jameson King; and great-grandchildren Aidan Simmermaker; and John and Jessica Garlick.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Robert Parker; and sisters Helen Phillips, Mildred Stone Meyer, Meda Trobaugh, Mary Ellen Phillips and Margaret Ann Parker.

Before moving to Winamac, the Simmermakers were active members of the Star City community, where she attended the Star City United Methodist Church and enjoyed singing in the choir. While raising her five children, she held a number of jobs but most fondly remembered the years she spent working with children while a teacher's assistant at the Star City School. She was a proud Democrat and worked the election polls for decades, even receiving an award from the Indiana Secretary of State for her dedication to Indiana elections. She was an avid IU basketball fan and loved the NCAA tournament as well as the Chicago Bears.

Mrs. Simmermaker collected antiques and loved nothing more than going to antique auctions with John. Together, they amassed an extensive collection of Indiana jacquard coverlets. She also collected junior Hoosier kitchen cabinets and vintage punched paper mottos. She was passionate about historic preservation and loved their home in Winamac. She and her husband proudly restored the Dr. G. W. Thompson house on Market Street which subsequently received designation on the National Register of Historic Places. Proud of her Hoosier heritage and their Hoosier Homestead Farm, she couldn't get enough sweet corn in the summer, and she loved black raspberry pie. She was smart, opinionated and fiercely devoted to her family. She always reinforced the importance of speaking up for what is right and for assisting those in need, especially at Christmas time.

In honor of Mrs. Simmermaker, a fund is being established in her name to support local causes which were important to her. Donations may be made in Janet's name to the Community Foundation, 127 East Pearl Street, Winamac, IN 46996.

In accordance with her wishes, Janet's body was donated to the IU School of Medicine for medical research.

All family and friends are invited to a celebration of her life on Saturday, Nov. 16, any time between 1 and 5 p.m., at Moss Creek Country Club, 3600 County Road S. 300 W., Winamac.