Senator John B. Augsburger

Lifetime area resident Senator John B. Augsburger was welcomed to his heavenly home on April 10, 2022 after a long, brave battle with Lewy Body Dementia.

John Bird Augsburger was born in Elkhart, Indiana on September 9, 1934 to John F. and Dorothy L. “Babe” Bird Augsburger. “Johnnie” enjoyed a childhood of playing with his sister and many cousins, fishing with his parents, and making lifelong friendships with classmates. He played trumpet in the band, sang in the choir, and loved being involved in school sports as a “Milford Trojan.” He graduated from Milford High School with the class of 1952.

John attended Bluffton College in Ohio, where he was a starter on the basketball team. He graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelors in Business, and then joined his parents running Augsburger’s IGA Grocery Store in Milford.  He later took over the family business and expanded it to stores in Syracuse, North Webster and Goshen under the name Augsburger’s Super Value.  A businessman at heart, John served on the Board of Directors for the Indiana Retail Grocery Association and for Mutual Federal Savings Bank. John also served as president of the Milford Chamber of Commerce.

On November 24, 1955, John married Shirley Kay Galloway. They had three daughters, Kim, Kerri and Angela, and one son, Niel, who died at birth.  John enjoyed taking his girls sailing and pontooning on Waubee Lake, but Sundays were mostly spent at his folks’ home on Lake Wawasee, where the family enjoyed boating, skiing, and family meals. John enjoyed shooting hoops with his girls, but nothing topped IU basketball and football. He was a deacon at Milford Christian Church, where he also sang in a quartet.

On May 13, 1980 John married Oweita Faye Tomlinson Gardner, and gained two step–children, John and Kimberly.  John and Oweita loved travelling the world (North and South America, Europe and Asia) and hosting friends and family at their homes in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, Ambergris Caye, Belize, and on Lake Wawasee in Syracuse.

John started his involvement in government by serving on the Milford Area Development Association.  He was very active in Kosciusko County Young Republicans. He was a Precinct Committeeman and a State Convention Delegate  from 1966 - 1976. In 1976 he was elected to the Indiana State Senate, and served for three terms, from 1976 to 1988.  He served on the following committees:  Agriculture and Small Business, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Interstate Cooperation, Legislative Apportionment and Elections.  He was the Chairman of Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs, as his passion was protecting our lakes and wetlands.

John was an adventurer and lifelong learner at heart. He earned his private pilot license and enjoyed flying his Cessna.  After retiring, John took classes at a local junior college to improve his photography and photo editing. He took his four wheeler on some wild rides in Arizona and he and his wife were active in the Jeep Club in Havasu.  They enjoyed a camping/river rafting trip on the Colorado River through the  Grand Canyon. John continued water skiing until he was 60, and he went skydiving for his 70th birthday. He was very purposeful in staying active by golfing, walking and biking.  Life was meant to be lived.

John was affectionately known as Papa to his 11 grandchildren.  They loved his goofy sense of humor, his ornery teasing, and his affectionate words of affirmation. Papa spent many summers taking them tubing and swimming with them. They enjoyed hiking with him in Arizona. He faithfully sat through dozens of dance recitals and enjoyed watching them play sports.

John is survived by his wife of 41 years, Oweita Augsburger and his daughters—Kimberly (James) Evans, Kerri (Nathan) Warstler, Angela (Robert) Wright—all of Syracuse.   His stepson, John (Kathleen) Gardner of Durango, CO and step-daughter, Kimberly (Dennis) Fusco (Hilton Head, S.C.). Surviving are also his grandchildren:  Karissa (Luke) Evans Kimmel, Jonathan (Sarah)  Evans, Drew (Jessica) Evans, Kindra (Jordan) Wright Dawes, Whitney Wright, Weston Wright, Hannah (Brad) Warstler Miller, Heidi (Danezion) Mills, Roj Warstler, Mia-Ann Warstler, and Jason Graff.  Great Grandchildren:  Reese, Joel, Jacob and Clara Kimmel, Etta Evans, Mason and Sophia Evans, Addison and Tatum Dawes, and Cole Graff. He is also survived by his beloved nieces, Rita (Doug) Charlton and Carla Curtis.

Preceding him in death were his parents, sister Carolyn Casto, son Niel John, great grandson John Simeon Kimmel, and his faithful yellow-lab, Amber.

Visitation hours will be held from 4-7 pm on Friday April, 15, 2022 at Mishler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 461 W 900 N, Milford, IN 46542. A funeral service will begin at 11 am on Saturday April 16, 2022 at the funeral home with visitation from 10-11 am prior the service. Brad Miller will officiate.  The internment will take place at the Milford Cemetery following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in John’s name to Wounded Warriors, Lewy Body Dementia Association, or New Hope Pet Rescue in Syracuse, Indiana.

Mishler Funeral Home & Cremation Center is assisting the family with arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family online at www.mishlerfhcc.com