Donald E. Brode

Donald E. Brode, 72, of Ossian, IN (Formerly of LaGrange), passed away on February 14, 2014.  He was born on April 1, 1941 in Noble County, IN to Robert & Florence (Sellers) Brode.  Mr. Brode is survived by 2 daughters, Teresa (Terri) L. (Kurt) Bradtmueller of Ossian, IN and Rebecca (Andrew) Behbehani of Cincinnati, OH and 2 grandchildren, Grace Marie Bradtmueller and Zachariah Donald Behbehani.  Also surviving is a sister, Evelyn Eppley, of Westerville, OH and 2 nieces.  Surviving is his dog, Cocoa. He was preceded in death by a son, Michael Brode.  Mr. Brode started his working life as a farmer as well as having bred Holstein cows.  He sold Farm Bureau Insurance, then was a partner in Combined Agency.  He then spent several years selling various types of automobiles, including being a salesman at Nelson Chevrolet and selling trucks at Norris Trucking in LaGrange.  He went on to work on the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department, from which he eventually retired.  After retirement, Mr. Brode was employed with LCAT.  He was a member of Mount Zion Lutheran Church. He was a former member of the LaGrange County Masonic Lodge, a member of the Mizpah Shrine Temple and the Scottish Rite Valley of Fort Wayne.  He served as a volunteer on the Topeka Fire Department, as well as the LaGrange Fire Department. He loved gardening and being outdoors, and spent many mornings taking extra vegetables (and breakfast) to the LaGrange County Courthouse.  A funeral service in his honor will be at 11 A.M. Wednesday February 19, 2014 at Yeager Funeral Home, 1589 Lincolnway South Ligonier, IN 46767.  Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Tuesday February 18, 2014 from 2-8 P.M.  The LaGrange County Masonic Lodge will provide a Masonic Memorial Service at 7 P.M. on Tuesday. A Firefighter Memorial Service, provided by the LaGrange County Fire Department, will follow the Masonic Memorial Service.  Memorial contributions may be given to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.