Douglas Edward Van Horn

Douglas Edward Van Horn, 60, of North Vernon, passed away at ­­­8:10 a.m. on Thursday, December 31, 2020, at his residence.

Born April 8, 1960, in Allegan, Michigan, he was the son of Herbert Van Horn Jr. and Cherry Ilene (Bush) Van Horn. He married Joanie (Wilhelm) Van Horn on April 26, 2005, in North Vernon; she survives.

Douglas attended high school in Bloomingdale, Michigan and received his Associate’s degree from Kalamazoo Community College in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1989. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1977 until 1981 and worked as the service manager for Chandler Chevrolet in Madison and as a service tech for Brookfield Chrysler in Michigan and for the City of Portage, Michigan. While working for GM, Douglas received the mark of excellence. He was a member and deacon of the First Baptist Church in North Vernon, a former I.H.S.A.A. football referee, a former member of the International Auto Technicians, and a member of the Society for Preservation of Barber Shop Quartets and the Mid Hoosiers Referee Association. Douglas loved all sports, was an avid Detroit Lions fan, and enjoyed coaching the YMCA girls’ basketball team and Lassie League softball team, refereeing the Kiwanis football games, restoring vehicles, singing, traveling, and teaching Sunday school and leading small groups.

He is survived by his wife, Joanie Van Horn of North Vernon; son, Timothy (Jessica) Van Horn of Charleston, South Carolina; daughters, Molly (David) Meador of Scipio, Allison (Wyatt) Raley of North Vernon, and Annie (Daniel Santos) Wall of Louisville; parents, Herbert Van Horn Jr. and Cherry Van Horn, both of Bloomingdale, Michigan; mother-in-law, Jeanine Wilhelm; brothers, Herbert M. (Sue) Van Horn of Cleveland, Ohio and Timothy (Marie) Van Horn of Allegan, Michigan; sister, Barbara (Steve) Strong of Bloomingdale, Michigan; brother-in-law, Dennis (Beth) Wilhelm of Commiskey; sisters-in-law, Vickie Van Horn of Grand Junction, Michigan and Jackie (Keith) Hartman of North Vernon; grandchildren, Isabella Meador, David Meador, Gunnar Raley, and Granger Raley, all of North Vernon, and Savannah Van Horn and Harper Van Horn, all of Charleston, South Carolina; twenty-four nieces and nephews; and eighteen great nieces and great nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Scott Van Horn; father-in-law, Dennis Wilhelm; uncle, Robert Van Horn; niece, Kara Van Horn; and great nephew, Justin Bennett.

A funeral service for Douglas will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at the River Valley Community Church in Madison with Rev. Bob Weeks and Rev. Drew Dukes officiating. Family and friends may call at the funeral home from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 4, 2021, at Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Services in North Vernon. Burial will be in the Vernon Cemetery.

In compliance with CDC COVID-19 guidelines, only 25 people will be allowed in the funeral home during visitation at a time. Masks are mandatory. We thank our families for their continued cooperation during these difficult times as we strive to help keep our community safe.

Memorials may be made in honor of Douglas through the funeral home to the Jennings County Community Foundation Community Undesignated Fund.

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