Coleen Mankey

Coleen Beverly (Yoder) Mankey, a longtime resident of Preble and having lived at Adams Woodcrest in Decatur since 2014 and having just turned 91, passed away Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at Adams Memorial Hospital in Decatur. She was born January 4, 1930, in Fort Wayne as the oldest child of Theodore “Ted” and Edith Pearl (Campbell) Yoder.  She grew up in Linn Grove and graduated from Hartford High School. She was married April 12, 1952, at Cross United Church of Christ in Berne to Robert “Bob” Jean Mankey.
They were members of Salem Magley Church along with her Aunt Beulah (Yoder) Kruetzman (Milton) and her twin cousins, Linda and Lila Kruetzman.
On August 8, 1956, their only child, Gregory, was born in Decatur. He graduated as the Bellmont High School salutatorian in 1974 and was the first candidate from Adams County to attend and graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy. After graduating on June 24, 1978, he married Linda Eileen Rekeweg, also from Preble. He served as a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine officer and is now Gregory A. Mankey, Captain (O-6) U.S. Navy Reserve (retired).
After getting married, Coleen worked at Wayne Candies, home of the Bun and her husband owned and operated Preble Welding & Repair. When her son started school, she began working as a wire die finisher at Fort Wayne Wire Die until she retired in 1995.
She is survived by her son, Greg (Linda) Mankey, who after 19 moves in 27 years lives in McCordsville; two grandchildren, Lora Marie (Andrew) Morgan; and Adrianne Jean Mankey; and two great-grandchildren, Mason Andrew and Liliana Joy Morgan.
Sadly, every one of her immediate family, except her son, preceded her in death:
- Mother: Edith Pearl (Campbell) Yoder died on Coleen’s 40th birthday at 60;
- Husband: Bob Mankey, EQCM U.S. Navy Reserve (retired) died on May 23, 1984, at 52;
- Father: Ted Yoder, Berne Swiss Days grand marshall before he died in October 1986 at 81;
- Brother: James ‘Jim’ Louis Yoder died November 11, 2000, at 68; and
- Brother: Robert ‘Bobby’ Keith Yoder died February 12, 2001, at 65.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the 1 p.m. funeral service Monday, January 25 at Salem Magley Church, 7494N 600W, Decatur. Social distancing and masks will be required per state directives. Officiating will be Rev. Chris Hirschy. Burial will be at Salem (Magley) Cemetery. The service will be streamed live with the link available on the Haggard-Sefton Hirschy & Zelt Funeral Home website. Select Coleen Mankey’s obituary and scroll down to see the button “click here to access the video”.
Memorials may be made to Salem Magley Church or donor’s choice charities.
Arrangements provided by Haggard-Sefton-Hirschy & Zelt Funeral Home in Decatur. To sign the guestbook, click on www.hshfuneralhome.com.