John H. 'Howard' Lursen

John H. “Howard” Lursen, 81 of Leesburg, Indiana passed away at 9:46 pm Saturday, January 3, 2015 in Hospice Home, Fort Wayne. On April 24, 1933, he was born in Kosciusko County, Indiana to John and Marie (McKibben) Lursen. He was united in marriage to Monva Jean Morgan in Warsaw, Indiana on May 3, 1953. Howard served our country in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict from January 2, 1952 to December 15, 1955. He served on the U.S.S. Prairie AD 15 with the rank of Damage Controlman Petty Officer Second Class. He was a self-employed farmer. He also worked for Champion Door for 35 years, retiring in 1993. He then founded Country Door in 1993, retiring in 2003. He graduated from Leesburg High School, Class of 1951. He attended Leesburg United Methodist Church and was a life member of American Legion Post #49, Warsaw. Howard is survived by his wife of 60 years, Monva Jean Lursen, Leesburg; three sons, Brian (and spouse Cindy) Lursen, Warsaw, Bevin Lursen, Leesburg and Brent (and spouse Kathy) Lursen, Leesburg; his daughter, Rhonda (and spouse Kevin) Dishman, Leesburg; his brother, Fred Lursen, Mobile, Alabama and his sister, Ruth Hamond, Warsaw. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Howard was preceded in death by his daughter, Robin Lursen Nealy and his grandson, Justin Lursen. A celebration of life will be held at the residence of Dennis Polk, 123 East Harper Road, Leesburg, Indiana 46538 from 12:30 – 3:00 pm Saturday, January 10, 2015. A private graveside service will be in Leesburg Cemetery, Leesburg with military honors by the American Legion Post #49 and VFW Post #1126, Warsaw. Memorial contributions may be made to Visiting Nurse Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46814 or to Kosciusko Homecare and Hospice, P.O. Box 1196, Warsaw, Indiana 46581-1196.