Jay A. Heyde

Jay A. Heyde, 92, Rochester, Indiana, passed away at 12:41 P.M. Friday, June 14, 2024 at Stillwater Hospice, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

He was born on July 20, 1931, in Kosciusko County, Indiana, to Forest R. Heyde and Frances (Esther) Knox Heyde. He was preceded in death by his two brothers, Russell and James Heyde, and his wife, Beverly Jean Heyde on January 28, 2020.

Jay grew up in Fulton County and served as a regular Army Officer with a Ranger Airborne qualification where he served with the 101st Airborne and resigned his commission to marry Beverly Johnson on Sept. 22, 1956, in San Jose, California. They had four daughters, Melinda Johnson (Paul), Columbus, Indiana, Tracey Nally, Holland, Michigan, Kimberley Hoppes (Bob), Indianapolis, Indiana, and Gwyn Green (Bryan, deceased), Brownsburg, Indiana.

Jay was the Owner/Operator of the Heyde Oil Company and founding Director of First Federal Savings Bank. He was a member of the Masonic Temple and the Scottish Rite. He was also a lifetime member of the Elks and Moose Lodge.

He was presented with two Sagamore of the Wabash awards for his position as Chairman of the Indiana State Fire Commission by two different Governors, Otis Bowen and Robert Orr.

He respected and admired the wonderful relationships and people who befriended him and his family over the years spent in Rochester. He loved giving out $2 bills around town.

Along with his daughters, he leaves behind nine grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and two great- great grandchildren

Funeral Services will be conducted at 1:00 P.M. Friday, June 21, 2024, at Zimmerman Bros. Funeral Home, Rochester, Indiana. Burial to follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Rochester, Indiana, where military graveside services will be conducted. Friends may visit from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Thursday, June 20, 2024 and one hour prior to service Friday at the funeral home. A Masonic Service will be conducted at 7:15 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home.

 Memorial Contributions may be made to the Jay Heyde Memorial Fund through the Northern Indiana Community Foundation, P.O. Box 807, Rochester, Indiana, 46975, to help support basic needs of children in Rochester Community Schools.  

Click on the following link to donate directly to the memorial fund: Jay Heyde Memorial Fund

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